DEFENCE OF WARSAW

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20914, 20 September 1939, Page 7

DEFENCE OF WARSAW

ALLEGATIONS BY GERMANY NO REGARD FOR CIVILIANS AIR FORCE NOT NECESSARY united Press Assn.—Elec. Te!. Copyright (Received Sept. 20, 1 p.m.) BERLIN, Sept. 19 A German communique states that the Poles are defending Warsaw without any regard for the lives of civilians. The German air force has carried out only a few attacks, the use of the air force being no longer necessary on the eastern front. Fifty thousand prisoners were captured in a battle near the Bzura River, and a further 10,000 were captured north-west of Lemberg, which was urged to surrender. In Russian Hands The Germans are withdrawing from Bialystok in favour of the Russians. Brest-Litovsk is also remaining in Russian hands. Negotiations are proceeding as to which force will occupy Lemberg. Several Towns Occupied The correspondent of the British United Press on the Polish front says Soviet columns passed through Vilna and entered Swenciancy and Nowogrodek, in the Vilna province, Wolowyck, 55 miles east of Bialystok, and •Slonim, south of Nowogrodek, occupying important railway junctions. The Riga correspondent of the American Press states that Russian troops are entering Vilna, and said that the inhabitants are plundering the army storehouses. Some suburbs are aflame. Poles for Western Front The Cracow correspondent of the American Press states that pro-Ger-man Polish troops are being dispatched to the Western Front. Three lorryloads of men, clad in Polish uniforms, said they had been unwillingly drafted into the Polish Army, whence the Germans captured and released them on their volunteering for the German Army. The Berlin correspondent of the American Press states that a High Command communique claims a total of 3UU,000 Polish military captives, including numerous Generals and two thousand otticers. The communique adds that the losses on both sides are heavy. The Polish dead or wounded are estimated at 20,000.