OPEN CONFLICT IN WARSAW

Southland Times, Issue 25434, 5 August 1944, Page 5

OPEN CONFLICT IN WARSAW

DEMORALIZATION OF GERMANS

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, August 4. “Temnest” was the code word that brought the Polish Underground Army in Warsaw, which had been straining at the leash in secret for nearly four years, into open conflict with the German occupation troops at zero hour. A. Polish Government courier who was in Warsaw a fortnight ago told The Daily Express correspondent that zero hour was put forward two days because the Germans began to evacuate. “We had thousands of secret shock troops trained in batches, and were determined that the garrison should not escape,” he said. "We had waited too long.” . , ' The courier watched the flight of the German civilian population and administrative staffs. He saw the German garrison’s increasing demoralization as the Red Army wheeled past BrestLitovsk.

The courier three days before leaving acted as an agent in purchasing 10 machine-guns from a German n.c.o. “We settled for £50,” he said. “Prices for equipment were falling rapidly as the Red Army approached.” The courier said the Germans are prepared for a . siege. “Our people are without tanks and planes and may not be able to break in, but the Germans will not be permitted to break out,” he said. The Polish Underground Army under General Bora is continuing to engage the German garrison within Warsaw. They control some of the southern and northern districts. The area in the south over-run by the patriots includes Belvedere Palace, the former residence of Marshal Pilsudski.

FIGHTING IN.WARSAW Polish Underground Forces

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, August 3. A Polish underground communique says that the underground forces, which started' an offensive in Warsaw on Tuesday, captured yesterday a number of districts in the city, including the Saxon Gardens, where the former Polish Foreign Office is situated.

It is learned the Germans are converting the centre of Warsaw into a series of strong-points. The underground forces have established contact with Madame Mikola jezyk (wife of the Polish Prime Minister), who is in a concentration camp in Poland.