Second Invasion of Poland

Evening Star, Issue 23374, 18 September 1939, Page 6

Second Invasion of Poland

Russian Troops Cross Frontier

“To Protect Our Own Interests”

Advance on 500-mile Front

Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright

BERLIN, September 17

The Propaganda Ministry reports that Russian troops invaded Poland at 4 a.m. Moscow .time. The Soviet had previously handed the Polish Ambassador a Note informing him that the Soviet troops were crossing the Polish frontier at 4 a.m. A later Berlin message stated that the crossing was effective on the entire 500-mile frontier from Polozok in the north to Kamenezpodolsk in the south. Its purpose is said to he “to protect our own interests and- those of the Russo-White Ukranian minorities.” The Soviet insisted on maintaining its neutrality despite military action, but the treaties between Russia and Poland were cancelled because the Polish State could not any longer be regarded as existent. A message from Moscow states that M. Molotov, broadcasting to the nation, said he had ordered troops into Poland “to protect our brothers. Poland’s collapse is obvious, and we are taking steps to liberate the nation from a war into which it was dragged by incapable rulers. We have notified all diplomats of our neutrality. Thfere is no need for our people to hoard food. No matter what the duration of military action, there will be plenty. I appeal to the, armies to keep up their discipline during the great task of the emancipation of the Ukranians and the White Russians. Fighting between the Russians and Poles broke out at Molodezcno, at the junction of the Minsk-Vilna railway. Frontier guards resisted the invaders.

CRUSHING DEFEAT .*' . ' s NAZI ATTACK REPULSED INFANTRY AND TANKS HURLED BACK ; FRENCH SEIZE GERMAN VILLAGES GREAT BATTLE PENDING LONDON, September 17. French military despatches confirm that the war’s biggest western front battle resulted in a crushing German defeat after three waves of infantry and massed tanks failed to break through the new French defences on the German hills. The battle raged in a loop formed by the narrow Nied River, in the exact centre of the sector between the Moselle River and Saarbrucken. The Germans were hurled back in spite of support from terrific shelling from the Siegfried Line and furious strafing by planes. •An official French communique issued last night says: “.The enemy is continuing to send up reinforcements opposite oqr lines. He abandoned and destroyed certain villages while retiring yesterday. A big battle raged in the loop of the Nied River adjacent to the SaarFrench frontier, north from the village of, Niedaltdorf. Reports state that the attacking German formations were hurled back despite terrific shelling, assisted by scores of German war planes dive-bombing the French positions. Frosh German troops were brought up from Trier, but the French stood firm despite an intense 10-hour artillery barrage. They are reported to have awaited the oncoming formations in newly-dug trenches. " The French artillery speedily found tlie range, and the massed German tank formations were blown up, resulting in the most severe German losses. The French, thereupon took the initiative ami charged the dazed attackers with bayonets, turning it into a rout. The German High Command at the outset brought up 100,000 picked troops in an endeavour to prevent the French front gaining a footing on the rugged plateau which forms a triangle between the Nied River and the Saar, from which guns not only dominate the industrial town of Saarlouis. but bring the main Siegfried Line within range. The retreating Germans destroyed the Trior-Motz line, which was partly blown up a week ago.” The Berlin correspondent of the Danish paper ‘ Politiken ’ says preparations are being made for a great fight on the western front. Already vast territories in the west of Germany have been evacuated, and it is expected that 18,000,000 or 20,000,000 will eventually be moved to Central Germany. All the ordinary duties of Nazi Party organisations have been suspended In order to build up an inner front. It has been officially confirmee] by Berlin that towns near the Siegfried Line have been evacuated, but this is described as a temporary measure. The French are reported to have pushed beyond Prel in an effort to turn the German flank at Moselle. The enemy, fighting doggedly on the hilltops and in the woods, blew up a railwav running parallel with the Luxembourg border from Metz to Trier. An official communique states: “During the night there were activities in numerous sectors, with strong enemy artillery action south of Saarbrucken. Our troops made some advances east of the Moselle River. A strong enemy cqun-ter-attaek with artillery preparations was repulsed in the area adjoining the lower valley of the Nied.”

The British United Press says the French seized dozens of German, villages, which they consolidated as advance posts in a slow but sure advance along 40 miles of the frontier from Luxembourg to east of the River Blies. The French pressure, especially around Saarbrucken, is apparently forcing the Germans to move back their artillery.. Semi-official reports state that the German gunfire is beginning to fall short of towns, notably at the Saarque mines. It is estimated that over onethird of the 30 principal mines in, the Saar are-in French hands. GERMANS EXPECTING HEAVY BLOW. According to a message from Washington the ‘ New York Times ’ Paris correspondent says; “The western front activity is of a nature heralding large-scale action. The Nazi reaction suggests that they are expecting a heavy blow. The activity is greatest on the 12-mile sector facing Saarbrucken, where the French have continued to make progress, taking two more villages. The chief work continues to be preparation of positions from which to initiate ‘ ulterior operations,’ which is being done along the entire front. The French have never relaxed pressure and have never lost the initiative. The concentration of forces is being completed and the armies are nearly all in position. The British troops are fitting into the plan as they arrive, although it is believed that only the Air Force has been in action so far.

A message from Brussels states that the Germans were forced to evacuate Perl so hurriedly that there was rio time to blow up the railway. The French high command is still most discreet concerning the exact whereabouts of the positions taken. 1 Le Temps ’ points out that there has been no bombing of vital French communications, and ascribes it to the sacrifices vada by Poland, which have attracted the greater part of the Nazi Air Force’s time. FIGHTING INTENSIFIES. It has been officially stated that Germany is heavily -reinforcing the western front. The troops are abandoning considerable territory and destroying villages before they retreat. There is intensive artillery" activity. French troops at several points are now fighting the defenders of the Siegfried Line itself. The battle of the Saar River may be approaching a decisive phase, but much more must be achieved before the Siegfried Line will be seriously imperilled. The ‘ New York Times ’ Paris correspondent says that the Germans are bringing up more troops to the western front, where the fighting is becoming fiercer every day. It is heaviest at present on the front 20 miles west of Saarbrucken, where the object is the possession of observation points dominating not only the Saar Valley but also parts of the west wall. The purpose of the German attack near the Nied River was to regain observation points along the pleateau from where Saarlauteh could .be brought under French fire. The German attacks were soon stopped. It is reported from Paris that, at least 15 German and the same number or more French divisions are engaged on the western front, totalling 300.000 men. The Basic correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that the Nazis are fiercely counter-attack-ing on a CO-miln front extending from Moselle to the Vosges. The assault is the most extended undertaken, involving all arms, and it slightly forced back the French right flank, where the Nazi airmen were most effective. On the other hand, the French are confining their thrusts to the _ forested, hilly areas, which are affording great protection from the air. BULGARIAN NEUTRALITY OFFICIAL DECLARATION * SOFIA, September 16. An official statement declares that Bulgaria is remaining strictly nenlral.