RUSSIAN ALARM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20046, 19 September 1939, Page 6

RUSSIAN ALARM

on his eastern frontier will immobilise a large part cf Herr Hitler’s forces at a time when they are needed in the west and Poland, brutally sticken to earth, will rise again. - ’

SWIFT NAZI DRIVE REASONS FOR INVASION LONDON CONJECTURE SOVIET "PROTECTION” AIM STUDY BY ALLIES (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Sept. 18. Although the Russian invasion of Poland was not wholly unexpected in London and was implicit in the Russian-German pact, the development imparts a new factor into the situation which is being anxiously studied by the British Ministers and will be the subject of consultations with the French and Polish Governments when the full official reports arrive from Moscow.

The News-Chronicle states: “Double intervention in Poland no doubt has been hastened by the speed of the German advance. It may be that Moscow had begun to fear lest the impetus of Herr Hitler's drive might carry him further than it was convenient to remain and find him establishing himself on or dangerously near the existing Russian frontier. “The immediate Russian action to occupy a slice of east Poland, and more especially to safeguard the Polish Ukraine and stop the German penetration before it was too late, would be the obvious reaction to such a fear.

The Daily Mail says: “Russia says that Poland is abandoned without leadership. She is neither. Britain and France do not desert their friends. They will fight for the independence of Poland and Ihe destruction of tyranny and will secure both.”

Conferences between Ministers, with the assistance of officials, were frequently held throughout yesterday and are continuing to-day. In informed quarters the view is taken that the situation is not dissimilar from that which has now arisen, and would have occurred ii Russia‘had been allied to Britain and France in the event of the Polish Government being driven beyond its .frontiers as is now reported to be the case. It is noted in this connection that the Soviet Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, emphasises the necessity of “protecting” the White Russians and Ukrainians.

The newspapers, while regarding as specious these professions, detect in M. Molotov’s communications an indication that the Russian Government is alarmed at the rapidity of the German advance and the threat it offers to Russia’s western frontier. Effect on German Forces Russia’s policy, says the Daily Telegraph. is as imponderable as ever and, after discussing the possibilities in detail, it adds: “Whatever the future may hold, two things arc certain. The presence of a powerful Russian army