UNDER CONSTANT BOMBING ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1939, Page 5

UNDER CONSTANT BOMBING ATTACKS

HEROIC RESISTANCE TO GERMANS MASSED AT CITY LIMITS Invading Armies Posted on Three Sides POPULATION PREPARING FOR SIEGE (By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright.) • LONDON, September 10. Despatches reaching* London early this morning* from Paris, Budapest and Warsaw state that Warsaw throughout the night was the centre of a terrific roar from attacking warplanes and the explosion of heavy bombs. There was an incessant crackle of machine-gun and rifle fire. Flames leaping up from buildings set on fire by incendiary bombs momentarily lit up theJPolish defenders, who are fighting back gallantly against the Germans massed at the city limits. Women are reported to have joined the defenders in hurling* hand grenades at the invaders. The High Command in Berlin announces that German troops have reached Warsaw from the south but have not occupied the city yet. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says it is officially announced that the Germans entered Warsaw at 5.15 p.m. on Friday. » The Lwow radio station announced that the Germans were in the suburbs of Warsaw. Broadcasting in Polish with a German accept and on the Warsaw wavelength, the announcer was heard warning the residents that the Germans would be entering the city early on Saturday. Armed Poles would be punished. The populace was asked to remain calm. Shops were ordered to close. * A message from Budapest says the Warsaw radio station announced at 6.30 p.m. yesterday that the city was under constant bombing but will not yield. The German armies are on three sides of the city and 150,000 men and women are throwing up defences. The population is calm and determined and preparing* for a long siege. All the bridges over the Vistula are intact, despite constant bombing*.

The Berlin correspondent of the “New York Times” says the Germans have begun to sweep around Warsaw, endeavouring to force its surrender without a further struggle. The Nazis now admit that their armoured units have not reached the centre of the city. From Budapest it is reported that the Warsaw radio, announced that all assaults have been turned back and 32 German tanks destroyed. “The city is drowned by roaring aeroplanes and the. explosion of heavy bombs,” it was stated. Men and women announcers were heard through an almost constant wail of air raid warnings. “It doesn’t matter if bombs destroy the old prand Theatre. It ought to have been demolished long ago,” was one good-humoured observation. A communique issued in Berlin late last night states that the Germans have crossed the Bug at two points, eliminating the last line on which, it. is believed, the Poles might defend their position. It is asserted that the Poles are trapped between the Bug and the Vistula. The Germans crossed the Bug at Wyszkow and Brok, 50 and 80 miles respectively north-east of Warsaw. Thus, says the-communique, the Nazis can now drive southward behind Warsaw’s defenders. It adds that the Germans are engaged in heavy fighting at Radom, seeking to cut off the Polish retreat toward the Vistula, still further south. Krosno and Buklo have been occupied. Kolbuszowa was reached in a drive on the San River. Jt is held that the Polish defeat will be complete within a week. The Ministry of Information in London states that as far as can be ascertained all British subjects in Warsaw are safe.