COURSE OF THE WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 September 1939, Page 7

COURSE OF THE WAR

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER’S SURVEY OBLIGATIONS TO POLAND TO BE UPHELD. REFERENCE TO SOVIET ACTION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, September 20. “Events have occurred in the last week of such far-reaching importance that there has not yet been time to estimate their effect on the fortunes of the war and on the attitude of other countries,” said Mr Chamberlain, in a statement made in the House of Commons on the war situation. “On September 13,” he added, “1 referred to the relentless German pressure on the Polish Army, which so far had been frustrated by the indomitable spirit of the Poles. This pressure and this resistance have continued during the week and are still continuing in many parts of Poland. The tide of German invasion eastwards has reached an approximate north and south line through Lemberg and Brest Litovsk. though there still remains islands of Polish resistance, such as Warsaw, which refuses to be submerged. Referring to the Soviet action. MiChamberlain said it was not unexpected. Reviewing Sunday's events in ((lie diplomatic and military fields. Mr Chamberlain reaffirmed that while the full implication was not apparent, nothing thal had occurred would make any difference to the determination of his Majesty’s Government to fulfil its obligations to Poland and prosecute the war with all energy until its obligations had been achieved. "The world, which has watched the vain struggle of the Polish nation against overwhelming odds with profound pity and sympathy, admires their valour, which even now refuses to admit defeat, said Mr Chamberlain. "If Britain and France have been unable to avert the •defeat of the armies in Poland, they have not forgotten their obligations to her. nor weakened in their determination to carry on the struggle. Referring to Herr Hitler’s speech, Mr Chamberlain said it did not change the situation. It gave an account of recent events which his Majesty s Government could not accept as accurate and contained certain assurances of a kind which in recent years Herr Hitler had repudiated when it suited his purposes. . . . „ , , A supplementary White Paper, to be issued tomorrow, would make plain the true course of recent events.