CITY PREPARING FOR LONG SIEGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 214, 11 September 1939, Page 7

CITY PREPARING FOR LONG SIEGE

DEFENCE WORKS.

Constant Bombing By Nazi 'Planes.

WOMEN HELP SOLDIERS. l r nited Press Association.—Copyright. NEW YORK, September 10. Conflicting: German anil Polish claims by radio have continued the uncertainty about the fate of Warsaw. The Berlin correspondent of the "New York Times'' states that the Germans have begun to sweep around Warsaw, endeavouring to force its surrender without a further struggle. The Nazis admit that their armoured units have not reached the centre of the city.

A Budapest message says the Warsaw radio claims that all assaults have boon turned hack and 32 German tanks have been destroyed.

"The city is drowned by roaring aeroplanes and the explosions of heavy bombs," the broadcast continues. "Flames are leaping from buildings against a jet black sky. Women are supplying the soldiers with food, and also in many places they have thrown hand grenades against the attacking Germans."

Men and women announcers have been heard through the almost constant wail of air raid warnings, making good-humoured observations such as:

"It doesn't matter. Bombs have destroyed the old Theatre. It ought have been demolished long ago."

The Warsaw radio also announced tliat the German armies were on three sides of the city, but 100.000 men and women,were throwing up defence works. The population was calm and determined, and was preparing for a long siege. All the bridges over the Vistula were intact, in spite of constant bomb-

A Budapest message stated that the radio at Lwow, Poland, announced that the Germans were in the suburbs of Wa rsa w.

The main German force in Poland, comprising 30 divisions, is in operation in Silesia as the main arm of the pincers movement. The other arm consists of 10 divisions operating from East Prussia. The German forces are mobile and highly, mechanised. They are capable of striking hard at lightning speed. This fact, together with an air strength vastly superior to that of the Poles, enables an offensive unparalleled in the history of warfare to be pursued. However, the Poles are consolidating new and prearranged lines. Their morale is reliably reported to be still high.