NEWS BY RADIO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1939, Page 8

NEWS BY RADIO

BOMBING OF OPEN TOWNS IN POLAND AMERICAN AMBASSADOR’S REPORT. | FLAGRANT. EXAMPLES CITED. The following Daventry reports have been rebroadcast by the New Zealand National stations: — The United States Ambassador in Poland has reported to the State Department on the bombing of undefended Polish towns. There was evidence that German bombers were releasing their bombs even when they were in doubt as to their objective. The Ambassador gave instances of the bombing of a sanatorium in which ten children were killed, of a refugee train, a hospital train clearly marked, in which wounded soldiers were being carried and of a Girl Guide hut in which 12 were killed. The Ambassador also reported that the town in which the Embassy was now located, an open village, had been bombed by four German planes, which dropped twelve bombs. Eleven people were killed and 40 seriously injured. The population was terrorised by the suddenness of the raid. The German Government had since announced its intention to bomb open towns and villages in Poland. The Polish Government has sent a statement to the governments of all Powers drawing attention to the bombing of open towns. GREAT BRITAIN’S POSITION. The question of unrestricted bombing of open towns was raised in the House of Lords, when the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, was asked if it was intended to stand by the declaration made to President Roosevelt before the war that Britain would refrain from bombing such places on the understanding that the enemy did likewise. Lord Halifax said the restriction was imposed on the basis of similar respect on the part of the enemy and if this Were not observed the British Government reserved the right to take any action it considered necessary. FIGHTING IN POLAND. Fighting in Poland still seems to be indecisive. The Germans claim to have reached Lemberg and to have captured Lodz. The Boles report heavy fighting in the north-east area, where the Germans claim advances. The German news agency states that German forces in Poland are meeting with unfavourable weather conditions. It is stated that if heavy rain sets in the German mechanised units will be unmobilised. The Ministry of Information states that the German Minister of Propaganda is striving to conceal from the German nation all news that Britain and France would not compromise with the Nazi Government over Poland. ON THE WESTERN FRONT. A French war communique states that French troops have improved their positions and that naval forces have taken vigorous action against enemy submarines. Activities of the Air Force had been reduced on account of bad weather. It is stated that the French have gained a mile of territory on a front of 12 miles. The Germans are resisting stoutly and work is being carried out feverishly behind the Siegfried line. There was a terrific explosion near the Luxembourg frontier, due, it is stated, to the Germans blowing up a railway line near the border. The French Cabinet has been reformed. M. Daladier has taken over Foreign Affairs and M. Bonnet the fortfolio of Justice. New departments are also being set up. SUBMARINE BASES. It is stated that the enemy may attempt to establish submarine bases on the coast of Central and South America and British representatives in countries in these areas have been instructed to keep a watch on any possibility of breaches of neutrality. Two Mexican destroyers are investigating a report that a large submarine was seen off the principal oil port in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, announced that it was intended to form a Ministry of Shipping at an early date. MR CHAMBERLAIN’S WAR SURVEY Mr Chamberlain, in a statement on the war situation, made in the House of Commons, referred to the meeting of the Supreme War Council and said he was pleased to assure the House of the determination of the people of Great Britain and France to honour in full their obligations to Poland and to put an end, once and for all, of the intolerable strain of living under a threat of aggression. Both in the military and civil spheres steps of a far-reaching character had been taken. The Eastern theatre was still the main centre of operations and the Germans appeared to be endeavouring to force a decision there before transferring forces to the Western front. France had begun a methodical advance. It was an essential and important preliminaiy phase, which had been completely successful. The British Fleet had been joined by three destroyers of the Polish navy. The convoy system was now being put into operation with increasing efficiency and submarines were being constantly attacked and successes achieved. GERMAN SHIPPING LOSSES. On the outbreak of war there were more than a million tons of German shipping at sea or in Allied or neutral ports. Nearly all German ships have since been swept from the seas. The Germans admit that the aerodrome at Saarbrucken has been bombarded and has been evacuated. German planes repeatedly bombed Warsaw throughout the day, but did not hit any military objectives. Numbers of private houses were destroyed and sixty civilians were killed.