TO NATURAL DEFENCES

Grey River Argus, 7 September 1939, Page 7

TO NATURAL DEFENCES

Warsaw Shelled SILESIAN OPERATION LONDON, September o. The report is made offleially in Germany that the Germans are closely pursuing the Poles on the Silesian front. The correspondent of “The Times" at Rotterdam says the German High Command reports that their forces in Silesia, as a result of heavy fighting in the. Tatra mountains, are now pursuing the Poles north of Tatra. A Polish General Staff communique states that the Polish forces have withdrawn from Czestochowa owing to an attack by superior German forces using armoured tanks. Reinforcements are reported to be attempting to close the break the Germans made in the Czestochowa sector. It is officially stated that the Germans have captured Katowice an important industrial centre in Poland. From Paris, the Polish telegraphic agency reported that 50 German airraiders destroyed a Rej Cross train near Szydlowicz. The main German attack is from Silesia, in Eastern Germany, and is supported by drives from East Prussia towards Gdynia and across the Vistula; also a northward drive, with Slovakian aid, across the Carpathians into Southern Poland, in order to execute a pincers movement. The British United Press correspondent states that five German attacks operating in the Corridor area, have narrowed it, but the Poles are counter-attacking south of Cracow. The war is proceeding almost m every way according to plan. The Poles are withdrawing quickly enough to avoid wasting men and munitions, and lowering their morale, though they are holding out with heroic bravery at outposts like the Hel Peninsula and the Westerplatte, despite broadsides from the cruiser Schleswig Holstein. The Poles are carefu ly withdrawing to the country’s natural defences, along the rivers Vistula and Bug. thus lengthening the enemy communications.

It is reported that the offensive from Prussia have reached Przasnysz 40 miles from the capital. A Warsaw communique states that an effective Polish counter-attack took place against German mechanised units in Southern Poland, near Bieradz. The Germans left behind a large number of tanks and lorries. A considerable number of prisoners were taken. The Associated Press of America special correspondent with the German eastern army savs that a general round-up of civilian males old enough to bear arms in the conquered sections of Silesia, has been ordered, because of persistent civilian sniping. Shots from houses in Czestochowa killed a captain, several lieutenants, and a number of privates. Sniping was resumed this morning, and thirty men were arrested. Northern Fronts POLES COUNTER ATTACK. LONDON. September 5. Pomeranian divisions of the German armies reached the Vistula near Kulm, 23 miles north-east of Bydgozcz (Bromberg), cutting off the Polish forces in the northern part of the Corridor. The German attack on Grudziadz on the Vistula, 40 miles from Bromberg, reached the first-line defences, while another detachment of invaders from East Prussia reached Przasnysz, 60 miles north-east of Plock, on the Vistula, which was already heavily bombed and partly aflame. German forces are crossing the Vistula at Gurdziadz and have penetrated 12 miles south-eastwards. The British United Press Paris correspondent reports that fighting is proceeding tn German territory on both sides of the ’Corridor. The Poles have pushed a poweful force of infantry and cavalry across the western border, due west of Gdynia. A Polish war communique issued in Paris says that a whole cavalry brigade has entered East Prussia.

AERIAL FIGHTING IN POLAND. LONDON, September 5. The United Press Berlin correspondent says: It is officially announced that German aeroplanes in a combat between Warsaw and Lodz, brought down 11 Polish planes. The German losses are not stated. A German communique says that a German fighting squadron brought down 16 Polish aeroplanes without a loss. The Polish news agency reports the intense bombing of Tczew. Thorn (or Torun), Katowice, Bydgoszcz, Cracow arid Warsaw. Planes dived and machine-gunnea peasants on the farms and roadsides, and dropped 200 bombs on a cemetery in a suburb of Warsaw, where villagers were burying the victims of Friday’s air-raids. The Poles report that the Germans bombed from the air 31 towns and villages, in the past 30 hours. It is estimated that 1000 pianos me engaged, of which the Poles have brought down more than 75. It is officially claimed at Berlin that no German parachute infantry have so far landed behind the Polish lines. “The Poles must have shot or executed German fliers forced to land, which is a flagrant violation of international law.” The Germans state that four Polish bombers; two fighters, and nine other types, were brought dow’n at Lodz. ENEMY NEARING WARSAW. EVACUATION IN PROGRESS. NEW YORK, September 5. The United Press Warsaw correspondent says tjhat artillery ana machine-gun fire was heard in Warsaw’, resulting in the belief that, the opposing forces are now near. All roads from the city are clogged by the evacuating populace. It is expected that the Government will shortly depart, but the destination is not announced. The Associated Press says that a Budapest report states Warsaw has been partly destroyed, under heavy German shelling and continuous airraids. The Government has already evacuated to Llublin it is believed. An unconfirmed report says that General Smigly-Rydz has offered his resignation;