WARSAW’S FATE

Evening Star, Issue 23374, 18 September 1939, Page 9

WARSAW’S FATE

SURRENDER OF CITY DEMANDED POLISH COMMANDER AGREES TO DISCUSS ULTIMATUM GERMANY CONSIDERS OCCUPATION IMMINENT LONDON, September 17. '(Received September 18, at 11 a.m.) According .to the German radio and official news agency, the Warsaw commander asked the commander of the besieging army to receive a Polish emissary to discuss the ultimatum for the surrender of the city, and the Germans agreed. It was later stated that the German High Command broadcast direct to Warsaw directions to representatives of the civil population to negotiate under white flags for the withdrawal from the city. The Warsaw radio to-night began broadcasting pro-German addresses and attacks on Britain, indicating probable occupation of the capital by German troops. A German broadcast claims the capture of the citadel of Brest Litovsb, and added that an attempt by scattered Polish troops to escape via Siedlce towards the south-east ended with the Germans taking 12,000 prisoners.

GERMAN ADVANCE CONTINUES WARSAW CLDSELY SURROUNDED BERLIN, September 17. (Received September 18, at 12.30 p.m.) An official communique states: “ The cleaning up of Eastern Galicia continues. Lwow (Lemberg) is surrounded on three sides. The Polish troops between Lwow and Przemysl find their lino of retreat towards the south-east cut off by German troops advancing towards Lublin. North of the confluence of the San and Vistula Rivers we captured Deblin, where 100 undamaged planes fell into our hands. Kutno itself was captured, and the river Bzura crossed in a northerly direction. Warsaw is closely surrounded. INVASION BY AGREEMENT WITH HITLER BERLIN, September 17. (Received September 18, at 1.5 p.m.) Official quarters strongly indicated that M. Stalin invaded Poland by agreement with Herr Hitler. . , The German troops have already reached Ukrainian sections which the Russians may claim.

POLISH INTERMEDIARY TO MEET GERMAN HIGH COMMAND ARRANGEMENTS MADE BERLIN, September I/. (Received September 18, at J. 30 p.m.) The Official News Agency reports that the military commander at Warsaw, after yesterday refusing to receive the German officer sent to Warsaw under a flag of tjuce, to-day, through the wireless broadcast, asked the German High Command to receive a Polish intermediary in order to discuss the German ultimatum for the city’s surrender. The agency adds that the German commander signified his willingness to do this. Subsequently a German wireless station broadcast; “Hullo, Warsaw! In reply to the appeal the German High Commanders’ envoy for negotiation of the evacuation of Warsaw by civilians, and the Envoy of the Diplomatic Corps in Warsaw for negotiation of the evacuation of the Diplomatic Corps and the foreign community will meet at 10 p.m. on the Praga Minsk road. The cars must be supplied with illuminated white flags and red lights.” It is officially stated that both sides must ensure that all hostilities stop at 9.30 p.m. ' - " SURRENDER A MATTER DF HOURS" ADVANCE OF RUSSIANS CONTINUES LONDON, September 17. deceived September 18, at 1.45 p.m.) The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press says Poland’s complete surrender is expected to be a matter of hours. Owing to the Russians marching across Eastern Poland on an 800-mile front to meet the Nazis east of' Warsaw the narrow strip between Warsaw and the' Russians is being swiftly eliminated. While the capital and the Polish divisions north of Lodz are the only spots still holding out they would appear to be in such a hopeless position that capitulation seems imminent. Observers saw the Russians enter Poland without resistance at a point where Latvia. Poland, and Russia meet. POLISH GOVERNMENT MEMBERS FLEE TC RUMANIA CERNAUTI (Rumania), September 17. (Received September 18, at 10.30 a.m.) The Polish Government fled into Rumania to-day. Seventy-five Polish planes also landed at Cernauti to-day. The crews were taken into custody. EXPECTED AT CERNAUTI BUCHAREST, September 17. (Received September 18, at 1 p.m.) It is reported that President M. Moscicki, Colonel Beck, and other Government officials at Wischnitz, in Rumania, are expected soon in Cernauti. ' STILL EXISTS AS STATE POLAND MAKES NO CONCESSIONS CONTRADICTION IN RUSSIAN DECLARATION LONDON, September 17. (Received September 18, at 11.30 a.m.) The Moscow correspondent of the Exchange Company states that authoritative Polish circles hero insist that Poland still exists as a State, is still fighting, and holds a major part of her territory. They emphasise that, in accordance with historic tradition, the State continues, even if occupying only a small part of its territory. The Poles see a contradiction in Russia’s declaring that the Polish Government is nonexistent, while simultaneously handing a Note to the Polish representative at Moscow, who rejected it, and now awaits his Government's instructions. EXTENT OF OCCUPATION ALMOST WHOLE LENGTH OF FRONTIER MOSCOW, September 17. (Received September 18, at 1 p.m.) The first reports indicate Russian occupation on almost the entire length of the frontier, approximately 500 miles, from Polosk to Manenez Podolsk. As the German motorised units reached within 100 miles of the Soviet border the Soviet mobilised further classes, making the strength nearly 4,500,000. High Command headquarters on Polish soil radios that advancing against very weak resistance, the Soviet troops penetrated in places 50 miles, and occupied several former Russian cities in tho north, including Glubokoe, Volozbin, and Molodeczno. The centres occupied include Baranowicze in the south and also Stavropol, Rovuo, and Dubuo. I

CONSTERNATION IN RUMANIA LONDON, September 17. (Received September 18, at 12.5 p.m.) The British United Press Bucharest 1 correspondent says consternation fol--1 lowed the news of the Russian march into Poland. The two main movements are from Kaimietz and Pololski, in order to prevent retreating Poles entering Rumania, whose Government had stated it would Intern them, and from Vitebsk to cut off Poles withdrawing from the Vilna province into Latvia. REPORTED SOVIET ASSURANCES BUCHAREST, September 17. (Received September 18, at 12.30 p.m.) It is reported without confirmation that Russia has given an assurance to respect Rumania’s neutrality and territory. GERMAN MINORITY IN RUMANIA COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT BUCHAREST, September i/. (Received September 18, at 11 a.m.) The Rumanian News Agency states that a complete agreement has been reached between the Government and I the German minority leaders concerning the treatment of the German minority. German representatives expressed satisfaction at the Government’s measures, which were verified in the course of a visit to the minority districts. BRITISH DIPLOMATIC VIEW FURTHER INFORMATION AWAITED LONDON, September 17. (Received September 18, at 1 p.m.) j Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax conferred throughout the day. It is authoritatively stated that the Government is waiting for fuller information from the Ambassador, i According to an Associated Press of Great Britain message the British diplomatic view is that the attitude of the Polish Government is not clear, and that if the Government flees into Ru--1 mania it cannot operate.