Poland's Last Word

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 171, 22 July 1939, Page 5

Poland's Last Word

Will Fight for Danzig

“NO OTHER WAY OUT” United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. WARSAW, July 20. In a statement broadcast in Polish, German and Italian, Poland declares simply and openly that she will fight for Danzig. “There is no other way out for us if tho occasion comes,” the statement declares. “Let tho words of Marshal Smigly-Rydz be understood by those who believe Danzig can be swindled from Poland. England and France have declared their solidarity with Poland. Let tho rulers of Germany understand that it depends only on their decision whether the battlefields of Europe are to be covered with millions of dead and wounded and whether the greatest cities arc to fall in ruins for one provincial Baltic town. “It is necessary to understand that Polish policy does not include bluff. Poland has said her last words through her Commandcr-in-Chief. “Polish political interests have opened a plan of provocation conceived in Germany and have attained realisation of their plan in Danzig with the shooting of a frontier guard. “The seriousness of tho situation has not decreased. Reports to the opposite effect, however, are current in Berlin, where Herr Hitler has worked out a plan for Anglo-German negotiations.” TENSION OVER BORDER INCIDENT POLISH GUARD SHOT DANZIG, July 20. The German News Agency reports that a Danzig Customs official shot and wounded a Polish border guard near Postelau. It is alleged that the Pole, standing on Polish territory, fired without warning, at which .the Customs official fired in self-defence. The shooting of the Pole has suddenly increased tension. The Danzig Senate has apologised to Poland, where the incident is regarded as inexcusable provocation. German sappers are speeding up antitank defences facing the Polish frontier near Gdj-nia. Military lorries without registration plates brought 20 anti-tank guns and ammunition to Danzig. Several hundred soldiers took part in military exercises in Langfubr, which is a Danzig suburb. They wore steel helmets and field grey uniforms with the sign “5.5.,” and also a swastika on them, and carried new rifles. Danzig police arrested tho Polish army officer, Colonel Sobocinski. Ho was subsequently released. It is alleged he contravened the prohibition against navigation a military area.

Herr Hitler will again confer with Danzig leaders at Bcrchtesgaden next week. Nazi circles are again alluding to the Hitler plan as a peaceful one.

WOULD BE FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE

Keselved Saturday, 1.30 a.m. WARSAW, July 21,

The broadcast to-day included a statement by General Smigly-Rydz: “Even if she has to fight alone, Poland has decided to fight for Danzig. If all other methods of settling the Danzig problem fail, and Germans occupy Danzig, Poland will consider that a cause of war. We will exhaust all methods of settling the question peacefully, and then, if Germany persists in tho anschluss, Poland will fight, even without allies. The whole nation is ready to fight for Poland’s independence, for when we say we will go to war over Danzig, we are fighting for our independence. Danzig is necessary for Poland. Whoever controls Danzig controls our economic life, our commerce and our floods. Whoever controls Danzig controls Gydnia.”