AN ULTIMATUM

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20912, 18 September 1939, Page 8

AN ULTIMATUM

MUST SURRENDER ! DEMAND ON WARSAW REFUSAL BY COMMANDER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 16 The German High Command presented a 12-hour ultimatum, expiring at 3 o’clock tomorrow morning, calling on Warsaw to surrender, according to a German radio broadcast at midnight. The same station announced that the Polish commander, General Czuma, had refused to comply with the demand. Aeroplanes later roared over the city, dropping millions of leaflets containing the text of the ultimalum, which demanded the surrender of the city and garrison. If this were refused, civilians would be given 12 hours to evacuate the town by two specified routes, after which it would be considered a military objective and become an active theatre of war. The German radio claimed there was no example in history of an army behaving as chivalrously, fairly and generously as the Germans had done to Warsaw. The Munich radio also announced that the Warsaw army would be completely destroyed unless it surrendered. Terrific Bombardment The ultimatum was obviously an earnest of things to come. The Germans launched a terrific artillery bombardment last night. The Polish Government announced by radio that Warsaw was now almost a single torch of flame. Two hundred heavy German guns were pouring in shells and incendiary bombs. Most of the civilians had taken refuge in the cellars, while the buildings above were collapsing and bursting into flames. Hundreds were killed, including invalids and children. The Lithuanian Legation and the Protestant church were destroyed by low-flying aeroplanes. Four hundred fires were raging at various parts. An official announcement Issued in Berlin states that Germany will not bomb open cities and will refrain from poison gas and bacteriological warfare, provided her opponents act similarly. The announcement answers the French and British inquiry made before the war. Bombs in Warsaw Refugees from Warsaw said the bombardment has played havoc, particularly in the Jewish quarter. A large bomb and subsequent Are killed 100 who were sheltering in one house.