RUSSIAN INVASION

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1939, Page 7

RUSSIAN INVASION

DISTRUST OF GERMANY INTERPRETATION IN BRITAIN [BY cable —PBESS ASSN. COPYBIGHT.] NEW YORK, September, 18. The Moscow correspondent of the New York US British authoritative circles do not believe that the n-Gei’-move was planned at the time of the signature of rprman man Pact. On the contrary, the mutual Russian and German du trUS They l be]ieve e that the German Foreign Minister (Herrwon Ribbentrop) promised that the Germans would not a PP^ ch a ., than a line running through Brest-Litovsk. When the S Germans nearing the line, she decided to act, and notified, Germany, which put on the best face and pretended approval of the move.

From the military viewpoint, the Russians have nbt improved their position vis-a-vis Germany, as the fortification of the new line, and, similarly, holding the frontier would take time. But, politically, Russia has gained considerably, as, apart from the fact that the Germans have been prevented from approaching the border and seizing the Ukraine, the invasion has given Russia easy access to Europe. Ironically, the Hungarians, whose hatred of Dr. Benes was based on the allegation'that the Russian-Czech Tact had brought Russia back to Central Europe, will now have Russian troops along their frontier. But unless Russia co-operates, Germany is again barred from the Roumanian oilfields, except by way of Hungary. The Russian people’s first feelings were of shocked bewilderment, but this was quickly replaced with satisfaction and some jingoism over the prowess of the “glorious Red Army.” The intelligentsia is pleased that the Soviet has “resumed its proper task of liberating an oppressed people.” .It is not expected that a Soviet system will be established, but, rather, that there will be a controlled State, similar to Outer Mongolia.'There is'at present no attempt at socialisation.

VATICAN’S ATTITUDE NEW YORK, September 19. The correspondent of the “New York Times” in Vatican City says it is very likely that the Vatican will side with Britain and France as the champions of Christianity against paganism and Communism, if Russia and Germany are allied in an ever-expand-ing war. “The Soviet action towards Poland constitutes a cowardly gesture,” declares the “Osservatore Romano,” the semi-official organ of the Vatican. The Primate of Poland (Cardinal Hlond) has been summoned to the Vatican. To-day he was received in audience by Pope Pius XII and the Cardinal Secretary of State, Cardinal . Maglione. The Vatican is particularly concerned with the state of Poland ow--1 ing to its large Catholic population. NICARAGUANS ANGRY MANAGUA, September 18. A theatre audience, angered by an announcement of the Russian invasion of Poland, marched to the German Consulate shouting, “Death to Hitler. Long live Poland.” Police dispersed the crowd. ' A police - census showed that thers are 400 Poles and 500 Germans in Nicaragua. ’ The Government lias closed the German-operated radio station, on the grounds that it was broadcasting Nazi propaganda.

A SOVIET VERSION MOSCOW, September 19. It is semi-officially stated that the Soviet invasion of Poland was the only means of forcing Germany to agree to the establishment of even a remnant of the independent Polish State.. \ . “SAVED GERMANY TROUBLE.” LONDON. September 19. An English-speaking radio announcer in Berlin stated: “The Soviet'has saved Germany the trouble of occupying the whole of Poland.” PROGRESS OF OCCUPATION MOSCOW, September 18. A communique issued this evening stated that Russian troops had occupied in the north, Eventsiany, Lida, Novogrudok, and Oryla, on the Niemen River, and Slonim, Vokovysk, and Yaglevichi, on the railway between Minsk and Brest-Litovsk. In the south they occupied Sarny, Lutsk, Sanislavov, Garlich, Krasne, and Buchach and were advancing towards Lemberg and Wilno. •

TROOPS ENTER VILNA RIGA, September 19. It is stated here that the Russian forces began to enter Vilna city yesterday night. There was some street fighting between Russian and Polish troops. White Russian folk songs, which had not been heard in Poland for years, were sung. The Lithuanians, however, hope that Russia will return Vilna City to Lithuania, wherefrom Poland seized it in 1920. NEARING LITHUANIA. KAUNAS, September 19. The Soviet infantry is following up the tanks which entered Vilna last evening. Meanwhile, the local admin istration continues to function. ■Soviet troops are approaching the Lithuanian border. MORE TOWNS OCCUPIED LONDON, September 19. The correspondent of the British United Press on the Polish front says that Soviet columns passed through Vilna and entered Swienciancy and Nowogrodek in the Vilna Province. Wolowycz, 55 miles eas ( t of Bialystok, and Slonim. south of Nowogrodek, occupying important, railway junctions. -The Riga correspondent of the Associated Press of America state that Russian troops,’ entering Vilna. said the inhabitants were plundering army storehouses. Some suburbs are aflame. The German High Command admits the continuance of fighting west of Warsaw, and north-west of Lemberg.

VOROSHILOV IN COMMAND. COPENHAGEN, September 19. Marshal Voroshilov is personally leading the Russian troops in Poland. NEW BUFFER STATE CERNAUTI, September 19. A new pro-German and pro-Russian regime will shortly be established in Poland. It will immediately sign a pact with Russia, realigning the Polish borders, and making the new State 41 buffer between Russia and Germany. ■' GDYNIA HEIGHTS SHELLED LONDON, September 19. , The Associated Press of America s -Berlin correspondent says that the warship Schleswig Holstein ha sopened fire, from Danzig harbour, upon the I heights above Gdynia, which have still inot surrended, but the absence of reI ply indicated that the Poles were hshort of ammunition. Between 2000 and 3000 defenders in the vicinity of Gdynia maintain the .fight against superior forces on the Oblosz Heights, west of the town, also the village of Ochshoeft. They are waiting, as captives said, “for the British to arrive.” GERMAN COMMUNIQUE.

(Recd. Sept. 20, 'll a.m.). BERLIN, September IS. A German communique states: ThePoles are defending Warsaw without any regard to the lives of civilians. The German Air Force carried out only a few attacks, as the use of the Air Force is no longer necessary.. On the eastern front, 50,000 prisoners were captured in a battle near the Rzura River. A further 10.000 were captured north-west of Lemberg, which is urged to surrender. 300,000 POLES CAPTURED. LONDON, September 19. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that a High Command communique claims a total of 300.000 Polish military captives. including numerous generals and 2,000 officers. The cdmihunique adds that losses on both sides are heavy. The Polish dead and wounded are estimated at 20,000; / The Cracow correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that pro-German Polish troops are being dispatched to the Western Front. Three lorry loads 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. ESTIMATE OF CASUALTIES

(Reed. Sept. 20, 11.45 a.m.). PARIS, September 19. The French military authorities estimate that the German casualties in Poland are 20,000 to 25,000 dead, and 90,000 wounded, and that the Polish are 20,000 dead and 80,000 wounded, excluding civilians. A Bucharest message stated that 10.000 Polish officers and men have so far reached Roumania, where they have been disarmed and interned. WARSAW HOLDING OUT LONDON, September 19. It is reported that the Polish troops are still resisting the repeated appeals that are broadcast by Germany, for them to lay down their arms. The appeals are replied to by the Mayor of Warsaw, who says they are defending their city to the very last. POLES REASSEMBLING LONDON, September 19. Though the Germans regard the Polish campaign as won, a Polish Army is assembling in the north for resistance.

The German High Command in a communique, says: The dissolution or capitulation of various Polish troops continues rapidly. It is impossible to estimate the amount of war material captured. The Germans claim 60,000 prisoners. It is stated that the Germans are retreating from Warsaw, and expect the Red Army to occupy it, also BrestLitovsk. German attacks on Warsaw were resumed to-day, in view of the refusal to surrender.

Lithuania is concerned over the Russian move to occupy Lodz. There is a great influx of refugees from Poland into Lithuania. FIGHTING NEAR FRONTIER PARIS, September 19. “Le Matin" declares that the Poles arc fighting desperately on a sixtymile front north of the Dniester River, in order to cover the Hungarian-Rou-manian frontier. LEADERS AT LOGGERHEADS. (Received September 20. 11 a.m.) NEW YORK. September 19. The Cernanti correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that a bitter argument between the Foreign Minister, Colonel Beck, and Marshal Smigly-Rydz, occurred at the station, while they were farewelling M. Moscicki. who was entraining for Craiova, near the Bulgarian frontier, where he has received permission to reside. The subject of the argument is not disclosed, but the two men are jour'neying by separate routes to Bucharest, whence it is reported they may go to Paris.