Announcement from Berlin

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20055, 29 September 1939, Page 11

Announcement from Berlin

THREE THOUSAND DEAD IN DAY Victims Left Lying In City Streets MODLIN FORT STILL RESISTS INVADERS Bombing of Civilians Recounted in Commons (Elec. Tel. Copyright-United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept, 28, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2U The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says the German High Command has issued a communique claiming that Warsaw unconditionally capitulated. The communique says the city -will be handed over to the Germans on Friday, after an armistice of -4 hours necessitated by the condition of the inhabitants of whom 3000 fell victims to' the bombardment yesterday. . Unothcial reports in Berlin stated that Warsaw was being given over to the German troops to-night. The Warsaw radio, before the conclusion of the armistice, disclosed that the citizens stood dazedly by while their houses burned. Dead and wounded were left lying m the streets. The Modlin fortress still hoMs out. Thirteen German planes shot down bring the total to 106. Replying ,to a question in the House of Commons to-day as to whether a statement could be made regarding the bombing of the Polish town of Knmcmieniec by _ German aircraft on September 15, and the action of. the diplomatic corps, led by the Papal Nuncio, in asking their Governments to protest to Berlin, the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. R. A. Butler, said: “Ilis Majesty’s Ambassador was at one period resident in the town in question, and reports that it was deliberately bombed with many casualties on September 12. It .then contained only the headquarters of the Polish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the corps diplomatique, there being no military objectives. I assume that this is the occasion to which the member is referring.” Mr. Butler also answered questions as to whether the British Government would consider approaching the German Government for the purpose of appointing neutral commission,*/ to investigate reported cases of the bombing of civilians, as had been proposed by the former United States President, Mi’. Herbert Hoover among others. Mr. Butler replied: “While Britain has every sympathy with the objects of this proposal and with that made by Air. Hoover, she considers that the difficulties of bringing the scheme into operation and of its functioning successfully would be almost insuperable. I would remind the House of what the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, said on September 14 that whatever lengths to which others may go, Britain will never resort to deliberate attacks on women and children or other civilians for the purposes of mere terrorism.”