SECOND WEEK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20044, 16 September 1939, Page 5

SECOND WEEK

FIRST STAGE ENDING INVADERS’ CAMPAIGN MANY .DIVISIONS TAKEN LINE ACROSS POLAND (Reed. Sept. 16, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 14. The Berlin correspondent of the New York Times reports that at the close of the second week of the war. Germany has completed the first stage of the campaign. It is estimated that between 20 and 25 Polish divisions have been either captured or destroyed. The correspondent says that the Germans, advancing from the northeast, completed the encirclement of Warsaw. Gdynia surrendered after holding out for 12 days. It is stated in Berlin that Gdynia has not suffered from the German bombardment. The electrical and water plants are intact. The shops are closed and the population has been without food for two days. Ninety hostages, in addition to the mayor, have been taken. Eighteen Polish divisions which were trapped north of Dstrow Mazowiska near the Narew River laid down their- arms on Wednesday. Five Polish divisions and two cavalry brigades were still holding out to-day around Kutno in the toughest and longest battle throughout the war. At present they are cut off completely and cannot be expected to resist much longer Unbroken German Line

An unbroken German line has been established across Poland from Lithuania to Carpatho-Ukrania. It is in the marshes beyond BrestLitowsk and Lwow (Lemberg) that Poland has the best chance of making the last stand. The fierceness and determination. of the Polish resistance has been proved at Gdynia and Kutno. The very speed of Germany’s advance, if repeated in the east, might give Poland a chance to isolate the German troops in the swamps where the Poles have been trained to fight. The correspondent of the New York I-lerald-Tribune, in a telephone call from the Rumanian-Polish border. says that the situation of the Polish Army is graver. The Germans are pressing the Polos from three directions and are threatening to cut them oil from the base on the right bank of the Vistula around Lublin. There are unconfirmed reports that Marshal Smigley-R.vdz has resigned command of the army and is giving over power to General Sikorsld, who •s considered one of the most able Polish generals.