TERRIFIC ROAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 11 September 1939, Page 5

TERRIFIC ROAR

QTT NIGHT OF TERROR Bombs Set Buildings Afire HEROIC STAND BY DEFENDERS \ * ~ INVADERS’ DRIVES ACROSS THE STATE (Elec. Tel. Copyright-United Press Assn.) (Received Sept. 11, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10. Despatches reaching London early this morning from Paris, Budapest and Warsaw, stated that Warsaw had throughout the night been the centre of the terrific roar of attacking warplanes, the explosion of heavy bombs and the incessant crackle of machine-gun and rifle-fire. Flames leaping up from* buildings set on fire by incendiary bombs momentarily lit up the Polish defenders who were fighting back gallantly against the Germans who were massed on the city limits. Women were reported to have joined the defenders, hurling hand grenades at the invaders. The Warsaw radio on Friday announced that Marshal Smigly-Rydz had appointed General Czumc as commander of the troops defending Warsaw and instructed (him to hold the city to the ‘ * last drop of blood. ’ ’

According to reports received from Budapest the Warsaw radio station announced at 6.30 p.m. on Saturday that the city was under constant bombing, but it would not yield. The German armies were on three sides of the city and 150,000 men and women were throwing up defences. ' The population was calm, and determined, and was preparing for a long siege. All the bridges over the Vistulq River were intact, despite the constant bombing. Budapest quotes a further Warsaw radio announcement to-day stating that the defenders were retiring slowly from positions around the city; but the Germans had not made any “important” gains. Heavy fighting was reported in the north and south-west suburbs. . German planes bombed the city throughout the day. The Ministry of Information states that the Polish army “has shown no signs of cracking,” despite Germany's big push. A/ communique issued by the Polish Army headquarters reported that considerable damage had been done in the centre of,the capital by heavy bombs. Several adjoining .towns were raided, but the enemy lost many machines. The Polish Air Force continued to raid German mechanised columns. Fight Against Overwhelming Forces “Our troops continue to fight bravely against overwhelming forces,” the communique stated. “Although being forced slowly back, they were fighting stubbornly at Lodz, Liotrow, Tomaszow, Mazowiecki, lviclcc, Tarnow, Rozano and Pultusk.” A report from Budapest says that the German High Command at Berlin announced that German troops had penetrated Warsaw from the south, but had not occupied the city yet. The radio station at Lwow announced that the Germans arc in the suburbs of Warsaw. Broadcasting in the Polish language with a German accent on the Warsaw wave-length, an announcer was overboard warning residents of Warsaw that the Germans were entering the city early on Sunday and that armed Poles would he punished. The population was asked to remain calm and shops were ordered to close. A Berlin communique issued late on Saturday night stated that ,the Germans had crossed the Bug River at two point's, eliminating the last line on which it was believed the Poles might defend their position. , It was asserted that the Poles were trapped between the Bug - and‘Vistula Rivers. The Germans crossed the Bug at Wyszkow and Brok, 50 and 80 niiles respectively north-east of Warsaw. Thus, stated the communique, the Nazis could now drive southward behind Warsaw’s .defenders. It added that the Germans were engaged in heavy fighting, at Radom seeking to cut off the Polish retreat towards the Vistula. Still further south Krosno and Buklo had been occupied, Kilbuszowa was reached in the drive on the San River. It was held that the Polish defeat would be complete within a week. Advance on Left Bank of Vistula. It was officially stated in Berlin yesterday that the German advance troops had reached Gora and Kalwariya on the left bank of the Vistula River, 23 miles north-east of Warsaw. Troops operating on the southern front reached Sandornir 50 miles south-east of Lublin. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states that the Germans claim' to have occupied the Polish industrial areas south of Warsaw, •including munition and aircraft works. The Berlin High Command 'ilaijxiS the occupation of Lodz had been affected by the German troops. The Lublin correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that the Polish Government, on Friday, announced that Bydgoszcz, the largest town in the Polish Corridor, had been regained from the Germans. The defenders claimed on Friday to have recaptured Pultusk, improving the situation in the north and central sectors and slowing down the German advance.