GERMAN AGGRESSION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1939, Page 5

GERMAN AGGRESSION

VIOLENT OFFENSIVE OPENED General Fighting on Whole Polish Front NUMBER OF TOWNS BOMBED FROM THE AIR RETURN OF DANZIG TO REICH PROCLAIMED (By Telegraph. —Press Association. —Copyright.) ' * LONDON, September 1. REUTER’S PARIS CORRESPONDENT REPORTS THAT THE GERMANS HAVE BEGUN AN OFFENSIVE WITH EXTREME VIOLENCE ON THE WHOLE POLISH FRONT. IT IS OFFICIALLY STATED IN WARSAW THAT GERMANS HAVE BOMBED THE RAILWAY STATION AT CZEW AND THE TOWN OF RYPNIC AND ALSO PUTZK NEARBY. •THE WARSAW CORRf THE UNITED PRESS OF AMERICA SAYS THAT GERMANS P'jMBED WARSAW AT NINE A.M. HE ADDS THAT MILITARY CIRCLES STATE THAT GENERAL FIGHTING HAS APPARENTLY BEGUN ON MOST PARTS OF THE FRONTIER. Tie stated in an earlier message that it is reported in Warsaw that Cracow, Katowice, Tczew and Czestocohowa were bombed by German planes early this morning. Fighting is reported at Danzig. Warsaw was awakened at G. 20 a.m. by sirens and an air raid was being awaiied. THE EXCHANGE TELEGRAPH COMPANY REPORTS THAT THE NAZI LEADER IN DANZIG, HERR FOERSTER, HAS PROCLAIMED DANZIG’S RETURN TO THE REICH. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press of America says that llerr Hiller has announced that the law' of the Keich becomes effective in Danzig immediately. Military circles in Warsaw report that fighting has begun in Danzig. THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN IN WARSAW STATED: “THE GERMANS STARTED MILITARY ACTION SHORTLY AFTER •§EVEN A.M. AT. DIFFERENT POINTS OF THE FRONTIER. THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY GERMAN AGGRESSION AGAINST POLAND. THE MILITARY ACTION IS NOV/ DEVELOPING.” THE SPOKESMAN WAS UNABLE TO STATE EXACTLY WHERE THE HOSTILITIES WERE OCCURRING. The Warsaw correspondent of the. British United Press says it is authoritatively learned that the first German raids began at 4.30 a.m. al five unspecified points. The al tacking squadrons were apparently not large, and the extent of the'damage is unknown. . Herr Hitler issued a proclamation to the German armed forces that Poland is no longer willing to respect the German frontiers. The proclamation ordered the German army to meet force with force. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press of America states that, Herr Hitler’s order to the army as a result of “violations' of the frontier” is regarded as tantamount to a declaration of war on Poland. Duce as Mediator OFFER NOT ACCEPTABLE TO POLAND IN VIEW OF GERMAN INVASION AND BOMBING (deceived This Day,. 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, September 1. The Paris correspondent of the British United Press says the Italian Ambassador informed J\l. Bonnet that Signor ‘’Mussolini had offered to mediate between Germany and Poland, f proposing a Five-Power ('onference, but, the highest Polish diplomatic circles declared that the Drice’s intervention was inacceptable, saying: “It would be inacceptable in peace time, and doubly so now that Ihe Germans are invading Poland and bombing cities from tin* air.”