THE AGONY OF WARSAW

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 253, 25 September 1939, Page 7

THE AGONY OF WARSAW

A BELEAGUERED CITY

DREADFUL EXPERIENCE

FORTITUDE UNDER GUNFIRE

(United Press Association.—By Electric .Telegraph.—Copyright.)

Received September 25, 10.9 a.m

LONDON, Sept. 24

“The last twenty-four hours have been the most dreadful yet passed, because the Germans are apparently determined to definitely break the spirit of the city’s defence.”

Thus began a message from the beleagured city received in London this afternoon. It prefaced the tenth message from Warsaw on the twentieth day of the siege.

The message depicting Warsaw’s agony continued: “The barrage of fire from heavy artillery has lasted without a break since Saturday afternoon from a hundred German guns, which are continually bombarding the city. However, despite the bombardment, hundreds of the faithful hastened to the churches, many being killed anti wounded on the way.

“The clergy this Sunday to maintain their fortitude and of trial, with a firm belief in

morning encouraged their flocks bear with patience tbeir hour ' tbeir final deliverance.”

MASSACRE OF CIVILIANS. “The Germans are apparently aiming to break the spirit of the city by the massacre, of civilians, by paralysing food transport, and by destroying the public utility institutions. “About a thousand civilians have been killed in the last twenty-four hours and the number wounded is far greater. Nevertheless, the morale is undaunted and the spirit of the troops and the population is unbroken. A time-limit, to their resistance .is difficult to foresee, but early assistance, on which the valorous city and tho heroic Mayor (M. Starzynski) are pinning their only hopes, is indispensable in order to save hundreds of thousands of lives and save Warsaw from final destruction.

“Despite all the circumstances,, the opinion prevails here that Warsaw’s S.O.S. will he rapidly answered, because the saving of Warsaw is most important for Poland’s Allies.