GERMAN DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 September 1939, Page 5

GERMAN DEFENCE

BOMBING OF OPEN TOWNS REPLY TO MR CHAMBERLAIN. ALLEGATIONS OF CIVILIAN RESISTANCE. BERLIN, September 16. The official news agency, in a long reply to Mr Chamberlain’s statement about German bombing of open towns, repeats charges against the Poles of using all towns, whether strategic or otherwise, as support for military operations. It claims that there have been many instances where German pilots were killed when their machines were brought down. “Mr Chamberlain is turning things upside down,” it adds, “when he says that the German declaration is a contradiction of Herr Hitler’s statement on September 1 not to wage war on women and children. The army will not bombard open towns if they are not used for military ends.” A semi-official German communique states that not Germany but Britain and Poland are waging war against women and children by calling on civilians to resist Germany. Germany will not bombard cities and towns and women and children in civil populations will not be misused for military purposes, it adds, but where Germantroops are resisted it will be necessary to bombard by all means in conformity with international law. Not Herr Hitler but Mr Chamberlain is warring against women and children, it claims. It is officially stated that Germany will not bomb open cities and will refrain from using poisonous gas and bacteriological warfare, provided her opponents do not do so. The announcement answers the French and British pre-war inquiry and follows the ultimatum to Warsaw. HITLER’S SURVEY FLIGHT OVER BATTLE FRONT. BERLIN, September 15. The Fuehrer’s headquarters announced that Herr Hitler made a long flight over the German front and saw troops on the march north of Przemysl. He flew over Upper Silesia, where he observed “chimneys smoking throughout a peaceful countryside. He also saw Cracow, which also was unharmed.” He then watched two GermanAustrian divisions crossing the San River. NAZI AIR BASE ATTACKED SUCCESSFULLY BY POLES. AIRMEN RAM ENEMY PLANES. PARIS. September 16. Warsaw Radio announced that Polish planes attacked and destroyed the German air base in Poznan from which the raiders were bombing Warsaw, and claimed that 30 planes were wiped out. The Polish Telegraph Agency states that Lieutenant Pilusinski, singlehanded, attacked 12 German bombers. When his ammunition gave out he deliberately rammed a German plane. Sergeant Barcinowsky, after shooting down a bomber near Modlin, was wounded. He too rammed a plane but was killed in the crash. Another Polish flyer who followed suit, parachuted to safety. KOVNO EVACUATION REMOVAL OF CHILDREN & OTHERS. KOVNO. September 15. All school children, invalids, and old people are being evacuated from Kovno immediately as a precautionary measure. Lithuanian ships have been instructed to call only at neutral ports. POLISH PRISONERS LENT TO GERMAN FARMERS. NEW YORK. September 15. A report from Germany states that thousands of Polish prisoners are being transported to the interior and lent to farmers, who will pay 60 per cent of the prevailing wage scale.