BESIEGED WARSAW

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20040, 12 September 1939, Page 5

BESIEGED WARSAW

Invaders Forced To Retire BATTLE FACING DECISIVE POINT Polish Armies East Of The Capital HITLER DEEMS CORRIDOR ACTION OVER (Elec. Tel. Copyright.—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 12. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 11. The British High Command to-day for the first time acknowledged that a major battle was progressing in Poland. The announcement stated that the fight for the possession of Warsaw seemed only,to have begun. To-day’s messages state that Warsaw still holds out. A communique issued by the Polish Supreme Command declared that the German forces penetrating close to the city' were compelled to retire. In a broadcast from Lwow, the Polish High Command declares that the Germans have withdrawn from the immediate neighbourhood of Warsaw and are consolidating their lines farther hack. The Budapest correspondent of the American Associated Press says that the Lwow radio to-day announced that the Poles had forced the Germans to retreat from some of the Warsaw suburbs. Warsaw to-day Withstood 14 air raids by 70 bombers, 15 of which were shot down, five crashing in the city.' Further buildings were *set on fire with incendiary bombs. The Germans were unable to make important, gains. , It is stated that a German plane dropped large quantities of Polish hank notes resembling’ genuine notes over Warsaw, probably in an endeavour to depreciate the currency. Reaching- Decisive Point, A Berlin communique states that the first great battle of the war is reaching a “decisive” point on the Warsaw.-Radom sectors of the 250-mile semi-circular front. The capture of Posen is expected at any moment. A German radio announce : inent admits the withdrawal from the centre of Warsaw owing to Polish artillery fire. The announcement also accuses the Poles of setting fire to their own capital.. A further German radio broadcast states that the Germans, south-east. of Warsaw, are establishing bridgeheads over the Bug River which is regarded as the last possible line of defence, of Warsaw. An extensive battle is progressing. Preparations are being made for the final drive against Warsaw. The westward drive of the northern and southern armies has reached a point enabling them ,to turn northward and southward, beginning the final encirclement of Warsaw. The opinion is expressed that the capture of Warsaw will not.be easy. The Poles retreating from the Kutno sector are being pushed towards the capital. The main force of the. Polish Army is expected to offer ,a determined resistance east of Warsaw. It is claimed in Berlin that eight Polish planes were destroyed and seven were shot clown in an aerial combat at Lublin. The German Air Force was harassing the NarewBuo’ Rivers south-east of Warsaw 5 on a front from Lodz to Warsaw and 100 miles south-east through Badorji. to. Sandomierz. Herr Hitler has moved his headquarters to the s Radom sector. Operations in the Corridor can be regarded as concluded, states the Berlin report.