AIM CHECKED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20036, 7 September 1939, Page 5

AIM CHECKED

LIGHTNING MOVE NAZI STRATEGY POLAND’S RESISTANCE BLOCKING OF TEMPO METHOD IN RETREAT WEAKENING OF INVADERS (Elnc Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 7, 11.30 a.m.) ■LONDON, Sept. 6. Military circles in London believe that Herr Hitler’s strategy aimed at a crushing blow in Poland before the British and French pressure becomes effective on the Western Front, says the London correspondent of the United Press of America. The success of a lightning war is problematical.

Military experts consider that the Poles have done well to block the tempo of the German advance in view of their strategic disadvantage. It appears that the German idea of smashing Poland in two or three weeks is destined to fail. There is not the slightest indication of a collapse of the Polish Army. On the contrary, the Poles are carefully withdrawing their main forces within the natural strategic defences east of the Vistula, but meanwhile they are fighting obstinately and delaying enemy actions. It is expected that the Corridor, if not severed already, will quickly be severed, although the garrison is holding outposts at the Hel Peninsula and Westerplatte. It is ‘believed the Germans cannot advance further southward until the flanks are protected. Progressive Retreats The Paris correspondent of the United Press says that Poland’s strategy is to weaken and confound the enemy by progressive retreats until the Poles reach their fortified lines. It is explained that it would be suicidal for the Poles to engage in a pitched battle in view of the superiority of the German man-power and equipment. A basic feature of the Polish plan is quick movement with each change designed to'force the Germans into abrupt and costly changes of plans. Thus the retreat is according to plan. It is expected that the invaders will be forced to pay heavily for the frontier advances. The Warsaw correspondent of The Times istates that, despite heavy pressure in Silesia, the Poles have taken the initiative in a number of places. This is fully in accordance with the expected plan/of operations. Polish strategy provides for swift counter-attacks where the invasion is the weakest, hot giving the eneniy time to maintain heavy concentrations at any single point. A Czechoslovak legion is being formed under General Prchala. Shorter Line of Defence Once the Poles are fighting on the shorter line of defence—that formed by the Vistula and Bug Rivers, they should be able to use their cavalry and specialised forces to the best advantage. The difficulties of the Germans while advancing into the enemy country, are already amply displayed, even in Silesia, where they had counted on the support of the Ger-man-speaking population which, on the contrary, is so restive that the Germans are unable to send up adequate numbers of troops to the front line. The Times, reviewing the rapid developments on the Polish front, points out that though the Corridor may be cut, it does not imply that the Poles farther north have been subdued, nor that the resistance east of the Vistula is slackening. No other result would be possible because the Corridor is so narrow that the range of powerful artillery firing from either flank could almost span it and the open plains afforded no natural defensive positions.