DEFENDERS OF WARSAW

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20906, 11 September 1939, Page 8

DEFENDERS OF WARSAW

GERMANS THREATEN CIVILIANS “WILL BE SHOT OUT OF HAND” POPULATION ASKED TO REMAIN CALM (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 10, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 9 The Berlin correspondent of the New York Times says the Nazis declare Warsaw will not become a second Madrid, chiefly because civilians taking part in the defence will be considered franc tireurs and will be shot out of hand. The Lokal Anzeigerimplies the execution of Polish civilians as franc tireurs. It asserts that it is obvious the Army Command is reluctant to enforce drastic measures against civilians. The criminal attitude of the Polish Government introduced a new phase. No army permits soldiers to be insidiously murdered by civilians. Murders at Bromberg, the insidious shooting of sentries and the murder of fliers who had been forced to land were proof of a bestiality which could not be spared. Broadcasting in Polish, with a German accent, on the Warsaw wavelength an announcement was overheard warning the people of Warsaw that the Germans would enter the city early on Saturday. Poles bearing arms would be punished. The population was asked to remain calm. The shops were ordered to be closed.

DIED AT THEIR POSTS NOT ONE MAN SURRENDERS PALL OF POLISH CITY (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Conyiitfit) LONDON, September 8 The defenders recaptured Pultusk, Improving their situation in the north and central sector and slowing down the German advance. A Polish wireless confirms the fall of Westerplatte, but the truth thereof is different from the German version. The defenders died to a man at their posts, not one deigning to surrender. The battlefront to the westward of Warsaw is described as 6tatic. TO THE LAST MAN [ DETERMINATION OF POLES GERMANY REPEATS CLAIM ;<United Press assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 9, 4.22 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 8 A Polish radio says Warsaw suffered the worst air raid of the war. Incendiaries started many fires. The strong garrison is defending. The commander, General Thomme, sent the following message: “We will defend Warsaw' to the last man. The German advance must be stopped. Heavy artillery may destroy the radio station, after which ray orders will be published otherwise.” The Berlin High Command repeats Its claim that motorised troops entred Warsaw from the south-west, hailing the drive as one of the greatest accomplishments in military history and the first example of the operation of lightning war technique. It is announced that other troops have arrived at Warsaw', also that troops have arrived at Gorakolwarja, on the Vistula River, and the outskirts of Lodz. TOWNS RECAPTURED BUCCEBB OF THE POLEB GERMANY’S MECHANISED FORCES CAPABLE OF STRIKING HARD (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlgnt) LONDON, Sept. 9 The Polish defenders are reported to have recaptured Pultusk, on the Narew River, improving the situation in the north central sector and slowing down the German advance. A message from Lublin says the Polish Government has announced that Bydgoszcz (Bromberg), the largest town in the Corridor, was regained today from the Germans. A Polish Army communique states that considerable damage was done to the centre of the capital by heavy bombs. Several adjoining towns were raided. The enemy lost many machines. The Polish air force continued to raid German mechanised columns. “Our troops continue to fight • bravely against overwhelming forces,’’ the statement continues. “They are being slowly forced back, fighting stubbornly, from the region of Lodz, Piotrow Tomaszow, Mazowiecki Kielce, Tarnow Bozano and Pultusk. It is believed Germany has from 50 to 60 divisions engaged in Poland. The German forces are mobile and highly mechanised. They arc capable of striking hard at lightning speed. This fact, together with an air strength vastly superior to that of the Poles, enables an offensive unparalleled in the history of warfare to be pursued. However, the Poles are consolidating new and pre-arranged lines. Their morale is reliably reported to be still high. NEW YORK, Sept. 8 An official Berlin statement announced that the city of San Domierz, 55 miles south-west of the temporary Polish capital of Lublin, has also, been captured.

FATE OF WARSAW GERMAN AND POLIBH CLAIMB ADMISSION BY THE NAZIS THE POPULATION DETERMINED (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Sept. 6 Conflicting German and Polish claims by radio have continued the uncertainty about the fate of Warsaw'. The Berlin correspondent of the New York Times states that the Germans have begun to sweep around Warsaw, endeavouring to force its surrender without a further struggle. The Nazis admit that their armoured units have not reached the centre of the city. A Budapest message says the Warsaw radio claims that all assaults have been turned bark and 32 German tanks have been destroyed. “The city is drowned by roaring aeroplanes and the explosions of heavy bombs,” the broadcast continues. “Flames are leaping from buildings against a jet black sky. Women are supplying the soldiers with food, and also in many places they have thrown hand grenades against the attacking Germans.” Men and women announcers have been heard, through the almost constant wail of air raid warnings, making good-humoured observations such as: “It doesn’t matter. Bombs have destroyed the old Grand Theatre. It ought to have been demolished long ago.” The Warsaw radio also announced yesterday that the German armies were on three sides of the city, but 150,000 men and women w r ere throwing up defence w r orks. The population was calm and determined, and was preparing for a long siege. All the bridges over the Vistula w r ere intact, in spite of constant bombing. The German High Command announced that troops penetrated to the centre of Warsaw from the south, but had not occupied the city. A Budapest message stated that the radio at Lw'ow, Poland, announced that the Germans were in the suburbg of Warsaw. POLISH MISSION ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN LED BY DISTINGUISHED OFFICER (United Press Assn. — Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 9, 4 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 8 A Polish mission, under General Norvid Neugebauer, arrived in London today. It was met by the Polish Ambassador and the Polish military attache and by a representative of the War Office. General Norvid Neugebauer began his military career in the Russian Imperial Army. He was a member of Marshal Pilsudki's secret rifle clubs, and on the outbreak of the Great War he became battalion commander in the Polish Legion. The end of the war found him in command of the division. Later he became deputy-chief of the Polish General Staff. He represented Poland at the French army manoeuvres in 1937. As an army inspector at Warsaw he received General Sir Edmund Ironside on his visit there this year. SMOKING RUINS POLISH CITIES DESTROYED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Sept. 9 The correspondent of the United Press has arrived at Bucharest after a 0 4-hour journey from Warsaw, during which he saw Tomaszow, a market town of no military importance, a smoking ruin as the result of aerial bombardment last Thursday. The Polisli Army, he states, is largely intact, with no sign of military demoralisation. For the most part it withdrew in ordered units. Neutral military observers declare the retreat to have been a brilliant feat, carried out at top speed over difficult country. The only losses of any size amounted to between two and six divisions, cut off and captured at Pasoan,