FIGHTING IN POLAND

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1939, Page 7

FIGHTING IN POLAND

RESISTANCE KEPT UP At Several Fronts [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, September 19. The Polish forces maintain resistance on several fronts. The Paris paper “Le Matin” says that Poles continue to cover the Hungarian-Roumanian frontier. In the Kutno sector the Polish Posnau army, after fighting for a lengthy period, continues to hold out, and maintain its efforts to reach Warsaw.

There are Polish forces active at the junction /of the Nu and the Vistula. The Polish fortress of Mandlin, north-east of Warsaw has not yet been taken. Germans were repelled in Warsaw outskirts.

The German High Command admits the continuance of fighting west of Warsaw, and north-west of Lemberg. There has been a heavy bombardment of Warsaw by German planes, but many German troops are leaving the vicinity for the West Front. The Poles have made wide breaches in the German forces west of Warsaw.

’ 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 when the Germans captured and released them, on their volunteering for the German army.

Red Army in Poland

CONTINUED ADVANCE.

LONDON, September 19.

Soviet reports report Red Army cavalrv has entered Lemberg and other south-east Polish centres. There has been some fighting. German troops have withdrawn from a number of places, and left these to be occupied by the Red Army. These include positions north-east of Brest-Litovsk.

A Moscow communique yesterday said Russian troops had occupied in the north Eventiansy, Lida, NovogYudok and Oryla, on the Niemen River and Slonim, Vokovysk and Yaglevichi on the railway between Minsk and Brest-Litovsk.

The Russians report several captures in South Poland, and state a third of the Polish-Roumanian frontier has been closed. For the most part the Russian advance has not been resisted, but there is fighting at some points. 'The Czech force of 1000 to Poland has been taken. The Commander, General Pibala, has gone to Roumania. The Red Army authorities have told peasants of occupied territory to take over the estates of landlords, and put their live stock in the paddocks. There have been thirty thousand Poles admitted to Roumania. The correspondent of the British United Press on the Polish front says that Soviet columns passed through Vilna and entered Swienciancy and Nowogrodck in the Vilna Province, Wolowycz, 55 miles east of Bmlystok and Slorim, south of Nowugrodek, occupying important rv.' .unctions. KAUNAS, September 19. The Sovic-i infantry is following up ' the lark., which entered Vilna lasi evening. Meanwhile, the local administration continues to function. Soviet troops are approaching the Lithuanian border.

Siege of Lemberg

BY NAZIS AND RED ARMY.

(Received September 20, 10 p.m.) MOSCOW, September 19. A communique states that Soviet cavalry and tanks have entered the outskirts of Lwow (Lemberg), which is also being besieged by Nazis. german communique BERLIN, September 19. A German communique states: The Poles are defending Warsaw without any regard to the lives of civilians. The German Air Force carried out only a few attcaks, 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 Bzura River. A further 10,000 were captured north-east of Lemberg which is urged to surrender.

Kutno Battle Ended GERMANS CLAIM 105,000

PRISONERS.

(Received September 20, 11.50 p.m.) . BERLIN, September 25. The German High Command announces that the Battle of Kutno, west of Warsaw, has ended, and that the Germans have taken 105 thpusand prisoners. ESTIMATE OF CASUALTIES. PARIS, September 19. The French military authorities estimate that the German casualties m Poland are 20,000 to 25-000 dead and 90 000 wounded, and that the Po 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 Roumama, where they have been disarmed and interned. BERLIN, September 19. It is officially stated prisoners and “immense booty were captured after the crushing of the Polish army in one of the bigg battles-on the Eastern Front, on the Bzura RIve £ ONDON) September 19 The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that a High Command communique rtaL aotai of 300.000 Polish mO.-, tan“captives, including numerous

ppnerals and 2000 officers. g The communique adds that losses nn both sides are heavy. Die Folisn dead and wounded are estimated at 20,000. FINNISH BOATS SEIZED. LONDON, September 19. Two Finnish steamers were seized . by the Germans and taken to Ham'burg. They were carrying fuel to .Hull.