REVOLT FAILS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24972, 15 August 1944, Page 5

REVOLT FAILS

WARSAW TRAGEDY GERMAN VENGEANCE RISING PREMATURE LACK OF ASSISTANCE (Reed. 7.1 a p.m.) LONDON, Auk. 14 The revolt within Warsaw is dying out amid terrible and tragic scenes, says the military correspondent of the Times. He adds that the Germans are exacting a fearful vengeance for their temporary setback. Dealing with the question of responsibility for the premature uprising in Warsaw, the correspondent states that General Bors was directed by the Polish Government in London to use Jiis own judgment about the time for the uprising. Before August 1 there were many signs that the Germans were about to withdraw from the Polish capital, but on that day a Russian mobile column advanced to the outskirts of the suburb of Praga. The Germans immediately began to retreat across the Vistula and General liors decided that his opportunity had come. Russian Spearhead Checked The British official wireless says the German High Command, in view of the strategic and political importance of Warsaw, concentrated for its defence elite armoured divisions from other fronts, including Italy and Rumania. With these they struck back at the Russian spearhead, inflicting at least a check. It became necessary for the Russians to consolidate the ground won and build up adequate forces for crossing the Vistula, also to clear the lower course of the Hug before they could hope to capture Warsaw. Until they can cross the Vistula somewhat nearer the capital it does not, seem possible to liopo for a frontal assault on the city. Jn these circumstances Allied aid is being sent to the inhabitants of Warsaw by such means as aro available. How effective such assistance can be is difficult to judge. Fighting Without Allies or Aid

The Daily Mirror, in an editorial, says: "The Third Battle of Warsaw is being fought without Allies and without even the material aid that might well have been expected. The first battle was the refusal in September, 1939, to surrender to the Germans and the city's heroic fight against what was then the world's greatest military Power. "The second battle early this year was in the ghetto where Jews fought a battle of extermination street by street and house by house. "The outside world has received the news of the third battle quite placidly. The men, women and children of Warsaw, who are facing the most vicious reprisals, are rightly demanding, 'where are our Allies; where are our friends?' May be they were ill-advised in their rising, but for five years they have felt the savage bitterness of German rule and they wanted to have their place in the triumphant march of the Allied forces." Soviet Washes Hands o! Affair

The Moscow radio has broadcast a statement issued by the Tass agency denying a rumour regarding ihe revolt in Warsaw. "Foreign newspapers have been printing reports emanating from the Polish radio and press about a revolt which started in Warsaw on August 1 under an order from Polish emigres in London," the statement says. "The emigre Government's press and radio has said that the people revolting in Warsaw are in contact with the Russian High Command, which is not sending them any help. Statements in foreign newspapers are either the result of a misunderstanding or a libel against the Russian High Command. "Polish circles in London, who are responsible for the uprising in Warsaw, have not attempted to co-ordinate the revolt with the Russian High Command. The responsibility for the happenings in Warsaw, therefore, lies entirely with the Polish emigre circles in London." AMERICAN AIR CHIEF COMMAND IN FAR EAST (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Auk. 13 The War Department announced that Major-General Curtis E. Lemay has been appointed commanding general of the Twentieth Air Force, now operating in the Far Fast. Veteran chief of many bombing missions over Europe, General Lemay takes over the operations of the Super-Fortresses in the China-Burma-India theatre.

General Lemay led the American planes which attacked Schweinfurt and Regensburg on August 17 last year, when it was estimated that 50 per cent of Germany's ball-bearing production was wiped out. For the "extraordinary heroism" ho displayed during this attack, General Lemay was awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross.

APPROACH TO BURMA BRITISH FOURTEENTH ARMY LONDON, Aug. 13 "Troops of the British Fourteenth Army have occupied the last large village before the Burma frontier, on the Tiddim Road," states a South-east Asia communique. "The forces moving eastward from the Kabaw Valley are at some points within ten miles of the Cliindwin River," the communique adds, "but have met no opposition. The total enemy dead counted in the Kabaw Valley does not exceed 500. Owing to weather conditions there were no important air operations." Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, in a message of congratulations to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbutten on the capture of Myitkyina, said: "This masterly and glorious victory, which was won by means of the close co-ordination of British, American and Chinese forces, represents one of the finest achievements of the Allied arms in the Southeast Asia Command." Admiral Mountbatten, in reply, said that he hoped that before long the Allies might move on to fresh and greater victories over the Jananese. A New Delhi message says that 27.000 Japanese dead and 24,000 wounded were counted on the Burma front from February 4 to July 15. SOVIET AND VATICAN LONDON. Aug. 13 The Moscow radio broadcast a statement made by the Tass news agency denying reports which appeared in foreign newspapers that the Soviet Union had made contact with the Vatican concerning social and religious problems after the war.