CLIMAX REACHED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 September 1939, Page 5

CLIMAX REACHED

according to french PRESS POLAND REJECTS HITLER’S DEMANDS. WAR PREPARATIONS IN FULL BLAST. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, August 31. The French Press considers that the crisis has reached a climax, with the final decision remaining in Herr Hitler’s hands. The Polish Foreign Office spokesman today stated that Herr Hitler’s last communication to the British Foreign Office is unacceptable to Poland. Government circles are taking a grave view of the situation, as reports of infringements of Polish rights continue to be received. The representative of the British Associated Press in Warsaw reports that while the war preparations continue throughout the country hundreds of thousands of newly mobilised troops are moving up to the frontiers.. Official circles'report that the Nazis have seized all railway stations in the Danzig zone and cut off communications between Danzig and the Polish port of Gdynia. The German secret police are searching all' trains and pieventing Poles' from leaving the Free City. The Polish Ministry of Finance has prohibited German banks in Poland from dealing in foreign currency. The Danzig Senate has ordered the arrest of all foreign ships in Danzig. They will not be allowed to leave the port without unloading their cargoes, which the Nazis are seizing. The Polish Navy has been instructed to take up battle position and ships at sea have been advised to approach-Gdynia only from a number of specially stated points, where presumably they will wait to be piloted through the minefields. The Polish territorial waters have been proclaimed a danger area. The train service between Italy and Germany and Austria has been suspended. All train services throughout Holland have been cancelled for September 1 and 2. RUSH OF RESERVISTS ENROLMENT IMPEDED IN POLAND. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) WARSAW, August 31. There is such a rush of reservists classes, other than those called up, that, an appeal had to be issued by radio asking them not to impede the work, of enrolment. PANIC IN DANZIG EXPLOSIONS AND SHOTS THROUGHOUT NIGHT. ROBBERIES AND MASS ARRESTS. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) WARSAW, August 31. The Danzig correspondent of the Warsaw newspaper “Wieczor Warszawski” says panic and chaos have reached a climax in the Free City. Explosions and shots were heard throughout the night. A number of robberies are reported and mass arrests have been made. NERVES IN BERLIN SITUATION AGGRAVATED. NO GENERAL EVACUATION. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) BERLIN, August 31. Official circles give the impression that the situation has been aggravated overnight.. There is growing nervousness on the part of citizens, who aie asking when “war nerves" will end. Moveable patients are being evacuated from hospitals in ambulances, but at present there is no indication of general evacuation. STRATEGIC POSITIONS TAKEN UP BY GERMANS IN SLOVAKIA. FORCES UNDER WAR TIME ■ DISCIPLINE. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) BERLIN, August 31. The German “Law Gazette” publishes General Keitel's decrees putting the defence forces under war time discipline immediately. The decrees mean death or lifelong gaol for deserteis, with ten years' gaol fo r three days absence without leave. It is authoritatively reported that German troops have taken up strategic positions on the Slovak-Polisn border. It is reported that three Polish destroyers which were sighted are believed to be bound for England. A Batislava message states that an estimated total of. 400.000 German troops is concentrated on the PolishSlovak border, and further reinforcements are arriving. The Slovakian Government has mobilised the Hlinka Guards, and the Slovak forces are now estimated to be 300,000. ITALIAN ARMY COMMANDS ANNOUNCED. INDICATION OF EXTREME EMERGENCY. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) ' ROME, August 31. Signor Mussolini, acting in his capacity as War Minister, has ordered the Italian Territorial Army to be divided into two “Armadas," the first commanded by the Prince of Piedmont and the second by Marshal Graziani. The order becomes effective tomorrow. The “Armada” plan is only ordered in time of extreme emergency. Marshal Badaglio has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Militia.