Twentieth Day of Siege

Evening Star, Issue 23380, 25 September 1939, Page 7

Twentieth Day of Siege

Continuous Shelling by Heavy Artillery Defenders Pin Hope on Early Assistance Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 24. (Received September 25, at 10 a.m.) " The last 24 hours have been the most dreadful yet passed, because the Germans are apparently determined definitely to break the spirit of the city's defence." Thus began a message from the beleagured city received in London this afternoon, prefaced "tenth message from Warsaw, twentieth day of siege." , The message, depicting Warsaw's agony, continued: "The barrage of fire from heavy artillery has lasted without a break since Saturday afternoon from 100 German guns, which are continually bombarding the city.. However, despite the bombardment, hundreds of faithful hastened to the churches. Many were killed and wounded on their way. The clergy, this Sunday morning, encouraged their flocks to maintain their fortitude and bear with patience the hour of trial with firm belief in their final deliverance. "The Germans are apparently aiming to break the spirit of the city by massacre of civilians, by paralysing food transport and by destroying public utility institutions. About 1,000 civilians have been killed in the last 24 hours. The number of wounded is far greater. Nevertheless the morale is undaunted and the spirit of the troops and the population is unbroken. "The time limit of resistance is difficult to foresee, but early assistance, on which the valorous city and the heroic mayor, M. Starzynski, are pinning their only hopes, is indispensable in order to save hundreds and thousands of lives and to save Warsaw from final destruction. "Despite all the circumstances the opinion prevails here that Warsaw's SOS will be rapidly answered, because the saving of Warsaw is most important for Poland's allies.'* Another message from Warsaw says that the German artillery destroyed four churches and three hospitals filled with wounded. The Poles are fighting to the death on Hel Peninsula. They are still under a heavy bombardment from land and sea. A German communique says: " Our navy joined in the renewed bombardment of Hel." The Berlin radio admits that a German infantry detachment was forced to retreat with its wounded commander when reconnoitring in a Warsaw suburb. A communique reveals continuance of Polish resistance round Tomaszow and Zomosc and between Lublin and Lemberg.