FRONTIER CROSSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20034, 5 September 1939, Page 5

FRONTIER CROSSED

East Prussia Penetrated THRUST IN CORRIDOR STEMMED OCCUPATION OF TOWNS BY NAZI ARMIES Defending Troops Passing To The Offensive

(Elcc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept, 5, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 4. Warsaw officials late last night restated that the Polish troops had crossed the northern frontier into East Prussia, after driving the Germans from several Polisli towns. The Poles claim to have penetrated nine miles into German territory, They broke through the frontier fortifications as far as the railway terminus at Deutsch Eylau. They also stemmed an attempt to thrust a barrier across the upper part of the Corridor and drove back the Germans across the border. A report from the southern front states that the Poles, executing a stategie retreat, are concentrating behind hills on the Cracow-Katowice line, where the first big battle is expected. The Germans occupied Rybnik, Teschen, and Prystat and . reached the suburbs of Katowice. They are pouring in by the Moravian gate in the endeavour to cut. the communications between Katowice and Cracow. Five main sectors are at present distinguishable in the German offensive. According to the Warsaw correspondent of The Times, the objective of the attacks on the Pomeranian front is Torun. Other attacks are being launched from a few miles east of Grudziaz and slightly north of Chodziez. Two drives are being made from Zbazn (reported to have been recaptured by the Poles) and Leszno, while an offensive from Kepno threatens Lodz. Planes from Slovakia bombed LwoW, otherwise Lemberg, otherwise Leopol, in Galicia. Apparently both sides are feeling their way and neither is rushing for a speedy decision. There is no sign yet of the vaunted Blitzkrieg (lightning war), with the supposed intention to push forward regardless of the cost, French military advices reported to-day that the Polisli military situation appealed to be improved. The Poles apparently disrupted the German offensive from East Pnissia and have reorganised their forces in the Corridor. Reinforcements were reported to be attempting to close the break the Germans had made in the Czestochova sector. The French War Ministry announced at 11.30 p.m. that operations had begun involving the entire land, naval and air forces. The Pax-is Midi comments:—‘ ‘ Great silence is observed on the military operations on the western front, but it can be assured that the Poles were not inactive and the German armies are going ,to be forced to loosen their grip on heroic Poland, whose troops at several points have passed to the offensive. ’ ’