STRUGGLE FOR WARSAW

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20908, 13 September 1939, Page 8

STRUGGLE FOR WARSAW

POLES WILL DEFEND TO LAST 17 AIR RAIDS IN ONE DAY HITLER PAYS SECOND VISIT TO TROOPS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Sept 12 The Polish Telegraph Agency states that the Germans failed to penetrate the Polish positions on the Narew and Bug Rivers. There were 17 air raids on Warsaw yesterday. BUDAPEST, Sept 12 The Lwow radio declares that volunteers are preparing to defend Warsaw to the last. A Polish communique claims a stalemate, despite savage attacks hy German tanks, planes and artillery. BERLIN, Sept 12 Tke High Command claims that all the territory in Poland belonging to Germany before the Great War is now in German hands. The battle west of the \ istula is drawing to a close. The German troops are approaching the fortress of NodlinOthers have crossed the Warsaw-Bialystok railway. A German radio announced that Herr Hitler has paid a second visit to the troops near Warsaw.

THREE=FRONT OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED BY THE QERMANB HOPE TO BREAK RESISTANCE GALLANT STAND BY POLES (United press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 3.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 12 The American Press representative with the Germany Army west of Warsaw says the German headquarters has announced that the German forces launched a three front offensive this morning, which it expects will be the final push to break the Polish resistance. The fronts are east of Radom, north of Lodz, and north-east of Warsaw. Four Polish divisions In the Radom sector are reported to be beginning to surrender. The Germans also said the bitter struggle at Lodz appeared to be endin? with heavy Polish losses. The United Press correspondent with the German Army near Radom says it is officially reported that the Germans have suffered 12,000 to 15,000 casualties, mostly during the last two days. The killed number from 1500 to 2000. The heaviness of the casualties Indicates that a bloody and .perhaps decisive battle is raging. STILL HOLDING OUT THE STRUGGLE FOR WARSAW CIIOPIN POLONAISE HEARD (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 3.15 p.m.) v BUDAPEST, Sept. 12 The opening notes of a Polonaise by Chopin, whose heart is buried in a Warsaw church, told Europe to-day that Warsaw is still holding out. After the radio had ended the night broadcast the opening bars of the Polonaise were sounded every 30. seconds on the xylphone. TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER HORSES v. ARMOURED CARS FATE OF POLISH CAVALRYMEN HORRIBLE SIGHT REVEALED (United Press. Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 3.15 p.m.) ROME, Sept. 12 "This war’s motif is horses against armoured cars,” writes an Italian eyewitness of the battle near Warsaw between the German mechanised units and the Polish cavalry trapped in a square formed by the towns of Skierniewice, Sockaczew, Gain and Kutno. Four times the cavalry charged, to be met by withering cross machinegun fire. More horses than men were slaughtered, as the gunners were ordered to fire at the horses’ legs. The cavalrymen, being unsaddled and wearied, attempted to take refuge in bushes and swamps. The Germans finally allowed some to join the retreating infantrymen, thus adding to the confusion. This morning the mechanised units moved in on the forces which had been trapped during the night, and formed into small squares behind heaps of dead horses. A Rain of Fire The artillery resumed fire at dawn, and massed aeroplanes flew over the troops, aiming a rain of lire, which made the ground boil. The cavalry again attempted to find an opening, hut the waves lost form in bloody groups. When the smoke and dust cleared it revealed a horrible sight of horses without men, and men without horses,”

WELCOME RAIN POLES' PRAYERS ANSWERED HINDRANCE TO GERMANS CAPTURE OP THREE TANKS (United Press Assn—Elec. Tel. Copyrlyn:) „ . LONDON,' Sept. 12 Rain is reported to be falling in Poland. All the people had been praving for bad weather, in the belief that rain and muddy roads will halt the German mechanised army, says a special correspondent of the independent Gable Service at Cernauti Rumania. Tiro Mina wireless station announces that the situation of the Germans is becoming increasingly difficult. The civilian population is sabotaging the invaders and many are organising insurgent groups to fight the Germans. The Polish infantry forces are holding fast on all fronts. Three out of four reconnoitring German tanks have been captured. It has been proved that while tanks may be invaluable in open warfare they are useless in street fighting. They cannot manoeuvre in narrow streets, nor can they withstand heavy fire from above. Tragic Plight of Refugees Poland is already facing a refugee problem of tragic intensity, says the correspondent of the New York Herald Tribune, who is now at Cernauti, Rumania. He adds that even such towns as Tarnopol and Tembowla, 30 miles from the Russian frontier, are crowded with men, women and children who have fled from the west. The roads have been choked for «lx days with people moving south and east from the advancing German armies and air raids. Thousands are spending the cold, raw nights in the open. There are no facilities whatever for handling such a mass of migration of civilians. Those people who fled southward are likely to be trapped again if the German armies make a drive to Lwow. Those in the east will be driven against the Russian border. VICTIM OF AIR RAID BRITISH WOMAN KILLED WIFE OF PASSPORT OFFICER (United Frees Assn Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12 A Ministry of Information communique states that Mrs Shelley, wife of the passport control officer at the British Embassy at Warsaw, was killed In an air raid last week. The remaining Embassy officials were not harmed. BRITISH BLOCKADE THREAT OF GERMAN RETALIATION WARNING TO AMERIGN SHIPS ‘‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE” (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 3.15 p.m.) BERLIN, Sept. 12 Authorised sources have issued a warning that American steamers carrying contraband may be submarined. They added that Germany will use submarines to prevent goods from, reaching England only to the extent that Britain blockades Germany The spokesman said: “It is an eye for an eye, butter for butter,”