The Waikato Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1939 TO BOMB OPEN TOWNS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20910, 15 September 1939, Page 6

The Waikato Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1939 TO BOMB OPEN TOWNS

2sazi leaders have found an excuse for further “frightfulness” in Poland. They have announced that they intend to bomb and shell open Polish towns because the inhabitants have been incited to resist German occupation. In spite of the fact that it is a perfectly natural reaction of victims of aggression to resist to the utmost the incursion of the enemy, apparently no mercy is to be shown henceforth. Every town or hamlet in Poland can expect a rain of deathdealing bombs, limited only by the capacity of the Nazi war machines. Did Germany expect the Poles to welcome the invaders with open arms ? Probably it did; hence the German official anger that it should be necessary to fight to hold every inch of the beleagured territory.

Germany is experiencing a condition of warfare which it has not been called upon to face during several years of aggression. Hitherto the victims have submitted meekly to Nazi occupation and domination rather than plunge the nations into war. That state of affairs has ended. Now it is war to the knife. War is no longer a thing to be feared but a thing to be won. Hence it was futile to expect Poles in the towns which have been trampled on by the Nazi engines of war to regard themselves as out of the conflict. Before the war is much older Germany may have to meet similar conditions elsewhere, even in territory which the Nazis are pleased to call Greater Germany. Czechs, Austrians and others will yet provide an internal problem that will demand further ruthless suppression. Rumours still persist that Signor Mussolini will initiate a peace movement if he sees any prospect of success, also that Herr Hitler will offer peace when, and if, he breaks the Polish resistance. It must be apparent to Italy that it is hopeless to expect the Allies to agree to any sort of terms while the Nazi armies are rampaging through Poland. Britain and France have repeatedly affirmed their attitude in the plainest possible language, and there are no conceivable circumstances in which Italy could hope to succeed with any peace move until Hitlerism has been defeated. Nobody expects Herr Hitler would be willing to withdraw from Poland until he is forced out at the point of the bayonet.

Even Germany’s hope of making peace after annexing vital Polish territories must by now have faded. It is probable that Germany believes she is winning handsomely and that there is no need to make any demand short of world domination. But in any case the way to a settlement after the fall of Danzig and the Corridor is barred very effectively. Poland’s own resistance is steadily stiffening, and France and Britain are proceeding relentlessly with the grim business of war on a large scale. Between them they have established a complete system of co-operation which will eliminate many of the weaknesses of the last war. Even the two Treasuries are acting in complete unity.