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Show RUSSIA REPORTS VILNACAPTURE Estonia Believed Next Step for Reds By WITT HANCOCK MOSCOW, Sept. 19 W Soviet Russian troops were reported authoritatively today to have entered en-tered the 'city of Vilna (Wilno) In northeast Poland, although there was no official announcement of the action. Rumors In diplomatic quarters that the British and French governments gov-ernments had presented protests against the Russian occupation of Polish territory could not be confirmed con-firmed immediately. With the red army rolling westward, west-ward, the possibility that Russian troops might march into Estonia was discussed in diplomatic quarters. quar-ters. It was regarded here as significant sig-nificant that the soviet Baltic fleet was ordered into action after the escape of a Polish submarine interned in-terned at the Estonian port of Tallinn. Esthonian circles here, however. emphasized that their guards tried to prevent the escape. They said there was no conflict in the relations rela-tions of their country with the soviet union. The soviet general staff earlier reported that army units continued con-tinued "to eject the troops of the Polish army" In their westward march and were nearing the cities of Wilno and Lwow. Vilna (Wilno), in northeast Poland, Po-land, is about 85 miles from the Russian frontier; Lwow (Lem-bergi. (Lem-bergi. principal city of southeast Poland, is about 90 miles in from the Russian border. Reports reaching Riga, Latvia, today said Russian troops led by tanks occupied Vilna. Inhabitants were said to have started plundering plunder-ing army storehouses, carrying away flour, and other goods in large quantities. It was not known just how far the Russians Intended to penetrate (Contipiirfl in Paca Twol I Column Twol . Russian Troops Reported Entering Into Polish City Soviet Russia's warships have embarked on "measures" against th remnants of Poland's submarine subma-rine fleet, believed hiding In Baltic ports, while the red army rolls across eastern Poland. (CmUsimS From Pan Oim) Poland, but It was believed they would halt on a line between Vilna In the north and Lwow In the south. Begin Negotiations It was understood here the Lithuanian Lith-uanian minister to Moscow was opening negotiations with Foreign Commissar - Premier Vyacheslav Molotov in an effort to have the Russians and Germans return VI Ins to Lithuania. (The Lithuanians Lithu-anians consider Vilna, which the Poles occupied after the World war, their ancient capital.) That the process of liquidation of huge estates of landlords In the Ukraine and white Russia already al-ready was In progress was disclosed dis-closed In a dispatch to the army newspaper Red Star. The Red Star's correspondent reported re-ported that army commanders were instructing peasants to,"take the land for the people" and to "turn your cattle Into the landlords' land-lords' pastures." Reports received here said peasants peas-ants were destroying Polish flags and hoisting strips of red bunting. As the red army advance continued, con-tinued, Tass, official news agency, reported -itimng Tneeitnm" ottne-population ottne-population with soviet army units, particularly In western (Polish) "white" Russia and the western (Polish) Ukraine. Tass reported the morale of the Russian troops "especially high" and said this was best shown by the "unprecedented rapid advance." ad-vance." "The red army men combine ardor and daring with confidence and calmness and bolshevik discipline," disci-pline," the agency said. Tass quoted the secretary of the central committee of the communist com-munist party In white Russia as saying that people with red banners ban-ners lined the roads where soviet troops passed and that girls decorated deco-rated with flowers the tanks and horses of advancing troops. "We advanced at such lightning speed," Tass reported, "that all bridges on our way remained Intact In-tact and telephone, telegraph lines and power stations are working normally." Awaits Arrival The report said the population of areas In western white Russia still unoccupied by the red army were "impatiently awaiting Its arrival" ar-rival" A Joint German-Russian communique com-munique last night hinted that Berlin and Moscow Intend to establish estab-lish a buffer "Polish state" between be-tween them. An editorial In the newspaper Pravda, communist party publication, publica-tion, said that everywhere in the western Ukraine soviet troops were rapidly advancing without I meeting any serious resistance. |
