HEAVY FIGHTING ON EAST FRONT

Northern Advocate, 5 September 1939, Page 6

HEAVY FIGHTING ON EAST FRONT

Poles Pierce Dykes. Flood Lowlands

(Jermans Land Troops By Parachute

LONDON, September 4. A POLISH COMMUNIQUE ADMITS GERMAN ADVANCES IN SOUTH-EAST SILESIA, BUT CLAIMS POLISH SUCCESSES IN THE GDYNIA AND DANZIG SECTORS, WHERE ORLOW AND HACK HAVE BEEN RECAPTURED. There is heavy fighting in East Prussia, but the positions are unchanged. - • The ‘Westerpk.tte garrison is still holding out. The German Official News Agency says the Poles have pierced the Vistula river dykes in the Tczew region, near Danzig, flooding the neighbouring lowlands, and have also destroyed the Vistula bridges at Tczew and Liessau, , The Germans are reported to have landed a number of troops by parachutes from aircraft behind the Polish lines, in order to cut telephone wires and blow up bridges. German pressure is increasing on the Corridor province of Pomorze.

casualties on both sides are recorded as a result •of severe lighting south of Zakopane.

Czech Legion With Poles.

The radio at Warsaw yesterday announced that Poland had recaptured the frontier station of Zbazyn. Poland has called more men to the colours, and the Czech Legion, comprised of refugees, has advanced to the front. Officials at Warsaw stated again last

night that Polish troops had crossed

the northern .frontier, as previously, ’ claimed, into East Prussia, after driving the Germans from several Polish towns.

The Poles claim to have penetrated nine miles into German territory. They broke through the frontier fortifications as far as the railway terminus at Deutsch Eylau.

They also stemmed an attempt to thrust a barrier across the upper part of the Corridor, and drove the Germans back across the border.

Strategic Retreat.

A report' from the southern front states that the Poles are executing a strategic retreat, and concentrating behind the hills on the CracowKatowice line, where the first big battle is expected. The Germans have occupied Rybnic, Teschen and Frystat, and reached the suburbs of Katowice.

They' are pouring in by the Moravian j gate in an endeavour to cut ■ * • V

communications between Katowice and Cracow.

Five German Aims.

Five main factors are distinguishable at present in the German offensive, according to the Warsaw correspondent of “The Times.”

The objective of the attacks on the Pomeranian front is Torun.

Cther attacks are being launched from a few miles east of Grudziadz (Graudenz) and slightly north of

Chodziez.

Two drives are being made from Zbazyn (reported to have been captured by the Poles), and Leszno, while an offensive from Kepno, east from Breslau, threatens Lodz. Aeroplanes from Slovakia bombed Lemberg and Leopol in Galacia. Feeling’ Their Way. Apparently both sides are feeling their way, neither rushing to a speedy decision. There Is"no sign yet of the vaunted Blitzkrieg (lightning war), with the supposed intention to push forward regardless of cost.