POLISH FORCES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 212, 6 August 1940, Page 7

POLISH FORCES

ORGANISED IN BRITAIN. AGREEMENT SIGNED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received August 6, 10.10 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 5.

A military agreement defining the principles on which the armed forces of Poland will be organised for co-operation with the British Forces has been signed by Mr Churchill and Lord Halifax, on behalf of Britain, and General Sikorski and the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs (M. Zaleski), on behalf of Poland. >

The agreement, which reaffirms the determination of the two Governments to prosecute the war to a successful conclusion, provided for the organisation and. employment of the Polish armed forces under the British Command in its character as the- Allied Higli ’ Command, as the armed forces of tho Republic of Poland allied to the United Kingdom. In its task of reconstituting the Polish forces the 1 olish Government will be assisted by Britain, which has granted Poland the necessary credits to finance the cost oi maintaining the Polish forces. Tiie Polish Air Force will be reorganised from those officers and men of the Polish Air Force arriving in Britain who have been selected for service by a joint Polish-British board. With regard to duties, rights, and amenities, the Polish Air Force personnel will be treated on the same footing as II.A.1• personnel. . ... . Units of the Polish Air Force will be employed in the same manner as units of the R.A.F. but, circumstances permitting, the units of the lolish Air Forco will operate together and may be used to support the Polish aimy when necessary. R.A.F ASSISTANCE. The Polish Air Force units will be provided with equipment of a similar kind and on the same scales as corresponding units of the R.A.F. The supply, maintenance, and training ot the Polish units will be organised by the R.A.F. ■ .. The Polish Air Force will adopt the same uniform as the 11.A.F with a distinctive Polish symbol and badges. The Polish Ensign will be flown with the R.A.F. . Ensign at all R.A.Fstations where the Polish units are based. , The Polish land forces will be organised out of the Polish troops in Britain and the Middle East. They will lie completed by the mobilisation ol Polish citizens living in Britain and by the drafting of volunteers from other countries. The Polish land forces form the armv of the sovereign Polish Republic, and the units form an operation formation under the Polish Command t hese forces will also he under the British Command. . , Polish organisation, regimental colours and all distinctions of rank and badges will bo retained. Britain supplying the arms and equipment. All the Polish forces will take the oath ot allegiance to the Polish Republic.