Garrisons Needed By Germans in Poland

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 263, 7 November 1939, Page 10

Garrisons Needed By Germans in Poland

GUERRILLA WAR POSSIBLE Until tlie political situation is clearer, it will be diincuit to estimate wiiat proportion or Germany a army and air i.orce it will ue possmie to transfer to me western front as me resuit or Germany's military success in x'oiand twroie tde military correspondent or me un,uy xeiugrapn in oepmmoer;. Both, xiussia ana Germany spean or estaonsiiing a ouuer tstate, presumaoiy unuer a puppet Government, out it is evident mat beiore mat can oe done organised x oiisn resistance must oe linaiiy crusneu. Will tnat task be carried out by Germany or by xtussian forces or oy a combination oi me two, and, if so, where will tne dividing lino between the two armies oe drawn 1 Will it be on tne general line LwowBiaiystoa, winch tne Germans claim to have reached, or will Germany insist on a furtuer advance, south-east of Lwow, in order to establish direct contac. with Rumania In any case it seems possible that a clear delinition of zones will be laid down, for Germany is not lively to wei come an intermingling of troops; and that, wherever tue dividing line is drawn, it will be held in considerable strength by German forces, in addition to that, so long us sporadic Pons a resistance is ottered a large force — prooaoiy of garrison second-line troops and mobile columns —will be roquireu I to police the area occupied by Germany, even should police measures be of th' most ruthless character.

Reports which should be reliable desenoe the Polish armies to be now in an advanced stage of disintegrate-a though still lighting bravely, ' hat a to say, tnere is no longer effective co.i tral control and wireless communication

between the various groups has broken down.

Under such conditions attempts to continue to light in large bodies, with munitions inevitably becoming exhau* ed rapidly, could only lead to iuijor disasters. For with Germany’s con* plete air supremacy and wealth ot mobile troops, all large opposing concentrations can bo located and sur rounded.

.Sooner or later, Polish resistance, if it is continued, as we believe it will be, is bound to take the form of guerrilla warfare, and it might theu be possible for the Poles to find an adequate supply of ammunition.

Until mud imposes limitations on tlie action of mecnanised forces it would seem that the Poles would be well advised to concentrate on organising and concealing guerrilla banus. -So long as large bodies of the Polish army remain in being the Germans are certain to operate energetically against them, fo» large captures of prisoners and armaments would have a moral effect as well as disposing of many who might becopae effective guerrilla leaders—and it is on effective leadership that guerrilla action depends. From the Western Front there ia ' little news except that the Germans continuo to launch counter-attacks and claim some successes. That is bound to happen, and tho nearer the French get to the Siegfried position the more difficult will it become to consolidate the gains and to resist counter-attacks supported by the fire of guns safely emplaced in the main position. W e need not be disappointed if French successes are sometimes only temporary or if lulls in the fighting occur, for, in “position war,” elaborate preparation for each advance is neees- ■ aary.