STRATEGIC PLANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1939, Page 5

STRATEGIC PLANS

AIMS OF GERMAN COMMAND POLISH ARMY LARGELY INTACT. RETREAT TO NARROWER FRONT. NEW.YORK, September 9. The Paris correspondent of the “New York Times” says the campaign in Poland is developing into the classic German plan—envelopment of one, or preferably both flanks by superior forces on an extended line. The only reaction possible for inferior forces is to withdraw and reassemble in a more favourable position on a narrower front and then deliver battle. If the Polish High Command decides to defend Warsaw, there may be a battle on four rivers, the Vistula, the Bug, the Narew, and the Ukra. Germans are converging on Warsaw from the north, the north west, and the south-west, and simultaneously are trying to advance from the south with Tarnow as the apparent objective, but this implies the crossing of the Carpathians. Progress must be slow. The situation is serious, but the Polish Army is still intact. The Bucharest correspondent of the United Press of America states that he has just completed a 64-hour journey from Warsaw during which he saw Tomaszow, a market town of no importance militarily, in smoking ruin following an aerial bombardment on Thursday. He says the Polish army is largely intact, and there is no sign of military demoralisation. The Poles mostly withdrew in ordered units. Neutral military observers declare that the retreat w,as brilliant and carried out at top speed considering the difficulty of the terrain. The only sizeable losses were among troops which were cut off and captured at Poznan. NO SURRENDER DEFENDERS OF WESTERPLATTE DIE TO A MAN. LONDON, September 9. The Polish wireless confirms the fall of Westerplatte, but the truth of the setback is different from the German version. The defenders died to a man at their posts, not one deigning to surrender.