POLISH ARMY MARCH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 11 September 1939, Page 6

POLISH ARMY MARCH

Efforts For Stabilisation STAND ON PREARRANGED LINE German Explanation of Warsaw Fires MOTORISED UNITS LEAVE CENTRE OF CITY (Elec. Tel. Copyright.. —-United Press Assn.) I Reed. Sept. 11, 1.50 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 10. Observers in London believe Unit if the Polish Army can be stabilised it: will march to victory, since the bulk ot: its mechanised equipment- is safe. The fate of the Polish soldiers in the course of the retreat from the Corridor is unknown. A million Polish, troops are reported to be massing on. the east bank of,the Vistula and others are defending the Dug River. A Bucharest message states that reports from the front indicate that the Polish forces are being consolidated on a. prearranged front along the Narew, Bug and Vistula Rovers and are organising' long-range resistance in north-east Poland.

•The British. United Press states it is oflicially announced in Berlin, that, parts of Warsaw arc burning, but this is not due to incendiary bombing. The German High Command to-day claimed that Warsaw was burning because Polish artillery was heavily bombarding-the “abandoned city.” The German High Command also claimed that the bulk ol: the Polish Army was being squeoded into a huge trap with four armies drawingA'ho loop, not only around Warsaw, hut on the .175-mile salient: west, of Wai'saw to Posen. The German Government spokesman, speaking in Berlin to-day, explained that motorised troops reached the centre, of Warsaw on Saturday, but on encountering snipers withdrew to the outskirts in order to await the arrival of the main army.

A German High Command communique dealing with southern Poland announces the capture of Lodz. It states that the German pursuit of the Poles continues between, the Carpathians and the southern Vistula. Mechanised armoured units have broken through to the river between Sandomierz on the Vistula, and Kill no. 60 miles west of Warsaw. German aircraft are bombing the Polish lines of communication and towns ahead of the German advance, including Lemberg, and I 'restLitovsk. The German forces in the north reached the area west of Wolclawck on the Vistula, north of Flock. Their spearhead is advancing from Lipno, SO miles north-west, of Warsaw, north-east of which the Germans gained a foothold on the River Bug and are fighting round Lomza on the River Narew.

The correspondent of the .British Associated Press at Sniatyn, Poland, says that a section of Lemberg is reported to be burning. German, planes are alleged to have machinegunned the streets. Polish headquarters declare that Warsaw is ready for defence. The occupants of a train conveying Polish Government officials arriving in south-east. Poland say it was continually bombed during the five days of the journey.