FIGHT AT WARSAW

Grey River Argus, 7 September 1939, Page 7

FIGHT AT WARSAW

Expected Hourly FIRST DECISIVE BATTLE OF CAMPAIGN. (Recevied September 7, 1 a.m.) WARSAW, September 6. A major battle for the capital is expected to start hourly. Machineguns are to be heard chattering at the edge of the city. The Polish radio announced that the Germans are massed north west of Warsaw, 22 miles distant, on a line from Cienchanow to Plonsk. This is likely to be the first decisive battle since the invasion. If the Poles are unable to hold here, the last stand before the capital will probably be Novydwor, which is fifteen miles north-west.

Warsaw Evacuation PEOPLE REMAIN CHEERFUL. (Received September 7, 1.5 a.m.) WARSAW, September 6. The wholesale evacuation of Warsaw is being rapidly carried out. The citizens of Warsaw are cheerful despite the inconvenience of continuous artillery and air bombardments:

Cinemas and theatres are open until dusk. Cafes and restaurants are carrying on with reduced staffs. HEAVY FIGHTING BEGUN. 30 MILES FROM CAPITAL. [lndependent Cable]. (Received September 7, 2.49 a.m.) WARSAW, September 6. It is reported that heavy fighting took place to-day, thirty miles north* north-east of Warsaw on the line joining Plonsk and Cienhanow. South and West Fronts GERMAN PROGRESS. LODZ AND CRACOW MENACED. (Received September 7, 2.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 6. The American Associated Press correspondent at BeiTTn reports the latest German communique on Polish operations, which is as follows: — “Our mountain and motorised troops on a broad front have forced the northern exits of the Beskiden Mountains in the Cracow district, south-west of Cracow city. They then began a swift attack on Novysacz (south of Cracow). At the same time German forces from the south and the west drove the enemy into Cracow. / \ Further north the towns of Checiny, Lupussono and Piotrkow (north of the city of Czestochowa) have been captured with a drive which is progressing along the Eastern Embankment of the Warta River, from the r western frontier, towards the city of Lodz. The East Prussian army took Cichanow and pressed the enemy southward. Our airmen are disturbing the enemy’s traffic lines and communications. Many rail-lines are interrupted. The communique adds: Our casualties thus far average four dead and twenty-five wounded for every ten thousand engaged. /

GERMANS IN POLAND. SABOTAGE NATION’S DEFENCES. (Received September 7, 2.35 a.m.) WARSAW, September 6. It is reported from Lubffii that the Polish defence has been handicapped by sabotage that has been carried on by the German minority. A whole village in the Lublin district, hearing gunfire, rushed out shouting “Heil Hitler !” / Many have been arrested for espionage. '' ' GERMAN CASUALTIES. NEWS KEPT BACK. ' LONDON, September 5. There is no news of German casualties. Notification to relatives is not yet permitted. The Germans state that their casualties, in Poland, will be announced in a few days and will be moderate. GERMAN SPIES. DROPPED FROM PLANES. ? v , CAUGHT BY POLES. (Received September 6 10.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 6. The London correspondent of the American Associated Press says that the British Broadcasting Corporation intercepted a Warsaw wireless message reporting that a number of German parachutists dropped behind 'the Polish lines. They were dressed as Polish soldiers. The Germans were captured, court martialled, and sentenced to death. ————— GERMAN PARACHUTISTS. SENTENCED TO DEATH. (Received September 7, 1 a.m.) WARSAW, September. 6. A number of German parachutists dropped behind the Polish lines dressed as Polish soldiers. They were captured and after being courtmartialled, were sentenced to death. CAPTURED GERMANS. LISTS BY POLES. (Received September 7, 1.5 a.m.) WARSAW, September 6. The Warsaw radio station regularly includes news bulletins in the German language, with the lists of names of Germans taken prisoner. The radio adds a few words of comfort to their families in Germany.

CZECH-SLOVAK LEGION. (Received September 5, 7.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 5. “The Times” Warsaw correspondent says: A Czechoslovak Legion is being formed under General Prchala.