ONLY BEGINNING TO RESIST

Evening Star, Issue 23369, 12 September 1939, Page 7

ONLY BEGINNING TO RESIST

A POLE PREDICTS GERMAN SETBACK PASSING INTO ROADLESS INTERIOR POLISH CAVALRY'S DAY COMING [Peu United Press Association.] WANGANUI, September 12. The view that Polish resistance was only now beginning, and that the Germans would meet with increasing difficulties as they advanced into Poland was expressed by Mr Michael Sendyk, a former Warsaw resident, who is staying with his wife in Wanganui. Mr Sendyk said Poland was well prepared, never having trusted the Nazi professions of friendship, and the country of Eastern Poland was suited to the operations of cavalry, in which branch the Polish army was particularly strong. Mr Sendyk left Warsaw 10 weeks ago and came to New Zealand with the idea of settling in the Dominion and finding employment as a motor engineer. “ I had no idea when 1 left my country that war would break out so soon, although Poland did not trust Germany and was well prepared. Last year Poland knew that it would come to war sooner or later, and strengthened her army from 200,000 to 1,000,000.” Mr Sendyk said Poland* was a country with an area of 250,000 square miles and a population of 35,000.000 Herr Hitler had intimated to Poland that Germany did not want war, but Poland nevertheless did not trust him, and knew' that when he had trampled over Czecho-Slovakia he would turn his attention to their country. In their military preparations, the Poles started with boys at school. Every summer the boys went into camp for further training.

Although the German army had made good progress so far in the campaign, it had to be realised that the advance to Warsaw was on good roads which were admirably suited to the German mechanised forces. When the Poles retreated back to the east, the Ger* mans would find practically no roads in winter, with mud and snow. Then would come the opportunity for the Polish cavalry, which was splendidly organised, and would put up a good flght.

The Poles had some of the best horsemen in the world, and had won many contests in Germany and other places.

Ranged on the side of Poland were 20,000 Jewish refugees who had been driven out of Germany by Herr Hitler with only £1 each. They were very bitter against the treatment received, and were all absorbed in the Polish army, and anxious to get some of their own back.

There were 3,000,000 Jew's in Roland. For the past 12 months Poland had been laying up reserve stocks of coal in various parts of the country, also iron and copper; and in their retreat had flooded the mines There was plenty of coal to last for 24 months, and the people also had ample food and clothing, and no rationing was needed.

MANSION HOUSE FUND LONDON, September 11. (Received September 12, at 1 p.m.) The King has given £5,000 and the Queen £2,000 to the Mansion House fund opened in response to the Duke of Gloucester’s appeal for the Red Cross and St. John Emergency Committee. Other Royal donations are:— Queen Mary £I,BOO, Duke of Gloucester £I,OOO, Duke and Duchess of Kent £750, Earl and Countess Harewood £SOO, Duke of Connaught £SOO. PLEA FUR MORE NEWS JOURNALISTS' UNION'S REPRESENTATIONS LONDON, September 11. (Received September 12. at noon.) The National Union of Journalists expressed grave concern at the failure of the Ministry of Information to provide the public with adequate news of the conduct of the war, and declares that it is in the national interest that the Ministry should be promptly reorganised to make it an effective instrument for keeping Britain and neutrals informed. The Union urges the immediate prevention of the unnecessary and arbitrary suppression of news militarily valueless to the enemy, the suppression of which leads to rumours tending to cause alarm. NEWS BY WIRELESS German Railways Shelled. Heavy shelling of the railways in the Saar by French artillery is reported. An attack by German forces in the vicinity of the Luxemburg border is claimed to have been effectively halted.

Invaders Driven Back. The Poles claim that the German attack on Warsaw is abating, and that the offensive is broken. Pour strong attacks on Warsaw from the north and the south-east have been driven off. The outlying suburbs are repeatedly being bombed. There is heavy fighting in different areas of Poland, but the German advance is claimed to have been stemmed. At Gdynia the Polish troops are still holding out, but the port is being surrounded.

Goering Leaves for Front. Field-Marshal Goering. has left Berlin for the eastern front to take up his position as commander-in-chief of the German Air Force.

Latvian Precautions. The Latvian Government has ordered partial mobilisation of three military classes. Returning to Germany. Fifty members ot the German colony in Dublin have left for Germany. They" will travel through Great Britain in sealed trains and under armed guard.

American Decree. President Roosevelt has suspended operations in the sugar market under the emergency regulations, because of the apparent activity of speculators,. Lessons of the Past. The Japanese Minister of Justice warned the people to bear in mind Germany’s defeat in the last war. Germany’s defeat was not strictly military, for during the latter part of the last war she had to resort to distribution of commodities. It was at that moment that Great Britain and France had launched their propaganda campaigns. Germany had won military honours. This is what took place 25 years ago.” said the Minister. ‘‘ and the people of Japan must bear this in mind and propare for an emergency situation.” Black-out in Canada. on the Canadian coast, including Halifax, will have a 10-minutes black-out to-night. The German Consul-General in Ottawa has arranged to leave as soon as possible, f