NAZI THRUST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 5

NAZI THRUST

EARLY SUCCESS CLAIM JN BERLIN ' BID FOR CORRIDOR FIGHT ON POLISH SOIL CAPTURE 01’’ TOWNS JUNCTION OF TROOPS (Hire. Tol. Copyright—United I’ress Assn.) (Reed. Sopt. 4, 10 a.m.) BERLIN, Sept. 2. Information from the German High Command indicates that Germany is trying to gain possession of the Polish Corridor. Then she may advise Britain and France that she is willing to suspend operations. As war will not he declared against Poland, it is denied that a condition of war exists. There is no intention to effect a complete change in Poland, but merely to rectify the eastern frontier. The first German official war communique says: “Military actions in Silesia, Pomerania and East Prussia brought unexpected preliminary successes. The troops reached a line from Neumarkt to Suchaneumarkt, and gained the heights of Katowice, approaching the River Brahe. They reached the River Netze. Fighting is going on' in the neighbourhood of Graudenz.” A second communique says: that the German forces from East Prussia are fighting and advancing on Polish soil. The air force bombed several aerodromes, including Graudenz, Plock, Lodz, Tomaszow, Katowice, Cracow, Lemberg, Brest and Terespol. “The air force thus gained the upper hand,” states the German dispatch.

A German Army communique claims that Germans occupied Teschen. Germans Continue Advance A later High Command communique stated: “We continued to advance this (Saturday) morning at all points, and also quickly forced the Jablunka Pass with the help of aircraft, and annihilated numerous planes at Polish aerodromes, which were attacked and destroyed.” A communique issued at 7.30 p.m. by the German High Command reports further rapid successes on all fronts near the industrial region of Upper Silesia. The Berlin correspondent of the Exchange Agency says that authoritative quarters claim that the Germans captured Dirschau, South from Danzig, and Przasnysz. The fleet shelled Hel, while planes bombed Gdynia. The German troops captured Pleas and are approaching Biala. nearing the River Warthe, and advancing to Radolsk. They have captured Wielun, and are pushing towards Sieradz. Detachments crossed the Brahe and are approaching Victual south of Graudenz, nearly forming a junction with the troops from East Prussia. The German Air Force dominates the Polish Air Force and can now protect Germany.

The Berlin correspondent of the New York Times says that the Germans are reported to toe 50 miles from Warsaw.

Major Battle Developing: A major battle is developing along the Narew River. A German Government spokesman denied that the air force had bombed open Polish cities. He said that the planes had bombed military objectives near them. The Germans contend that there has been no war. merely a counter-blow in retaliation, for the Polish attack on Gleiwitz. The British United Press reports that the German army has been unable to develop an offensive, according to wireless reports from Warsaw. The German troops are in no position, to follow up the surprise offensive and have suffered heavy casualties.

The correspondent of the Associated Press of America at Warsaw reports that the Poles are spiritedly fighting back on three fronts.

The Berlin ,correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that a radio broadcast at 4.10 p.m. issued a warning that a raid on Berlin was expected to-night. The population were asked to remain calm.

The news filtering from Zurich and Copenhagen indicates that Germans are preparing for the evacuation of Karlsruhe and Saarbrucken. Church bells pealed throughout Germany on Friday morning rejoicing for ;the return of Danzig. Three German towns, Gleiwitz, Ratibor and Beuthen in Upper Silesia, were heavily bombarded by artillery.

The Berlin correspondent of the United Press of America quotes a German High Command communique, which states that Polish troops have been shelling the German town of Seliomberg since Friday and that great material damage has been done.

Referring to the official report of the capture of Czestochowa, issued by the German High Command, the Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America says the announcement added: “Troops are swiftly advancing on all Polish fronts”

The Warsaw correspondent of the United Yress of America says that it has been semi-oflicially announced that Polish troops have entered East Prussia in the vicinity of Deutscheylau, apparently endeavouring to get behind the German army, which is attempting to cut off the Corridor from the rest of Poland. The latter are attempting to make contact with the German army advancing from the other side.