ARTILLERY ACTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 276, 4 September 1939, Page 6

ARTILLERY ACTION

GERMAN TOWNS SHELLED. ACTION IN UPPER SILESIA. POLISH' DEFENCE AT WESTERPLATTE. (United Press Association-'-Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 3. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press of America reports that a German army communique announces that Polish troops have been shelling the German town of Sehomberg since yesterday. Great material damage has been done. News filtering in from Zurich ai d Copenhagen indicates teat the Germans are preparing the evacuation of Karlsruhe and Saarbrucken. Church bells pealed throughout Germany in the morning, rejoicing at the return of Danzig. Three German towns, Gleiwitz, Ratibor, and Beuthen, in Upper Silesia, were heavily bombarded by artillery. Warsaw’s short-wave station early this morning broadcast Marshal SmiglyRydz’s salutation to the heroic garrison at Westerplatte for repelling four German attacks. “Poland expects you to hold the fort to the last,” he said. A Polish Embassy statement says: “It isi officially reported that the Ger-r man attack was treacherously la,unched a few hours after the Polish Ambassador in Berlin informed the Reich that Poland was sympathetic to the peace efforts of Britain. “The action included tank attacks on three fronts. The aggression at all points was met with a. resolute defence, notably by the garrison at Westerplatte.” / NEW ZEALANDERS VOLUNTEER. THREie HUNDRED IN' LONDON. A EXPEDITIONARY FORCE SECTION (Received This Day. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, September 3. The New Zealand offices remain open. The publicity officer (Mr H. Drew) is dealing with inquiries from many who are desirous of returning to New Zealand. Three hundred applications have been received from New Zealand residents anxious to join up. Their names have been taken pending information whether there will be an expeditionary force from the Dominion, in which event a section will he formed and encamped in England in the same way as at the last war.