HITLER’S STRATEGY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 September 1939, Page 7

HITLER’S STRATEGY

INTENT ON WINNING QUICK DECISION POLES’ DELAYING TACTICS. NO INDICATION OF COLLAPSE. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 6. “Military circles in London believe that Hitler’s strategy is aimed at crushing Poland before British and French pressure is effective on the Western Front,” says the London correspondent of the United Press, “Success in lightning war is problematical Military experts consider that the Poles have done well to block the tempo of the German advance in view of their strategic disadvantage. It appears that the German idea of smashing Poland in two or three weeks is destined to fail. There is not the slightest indication of a collapse of the Polish Army. On the contrary, the Poles are carefully withdrawing their main forces within the natural strategic defences east of the Vistula, but meanwhile are fighting obstinately and delaying the enemy. “It is expected that the Corridor, if not severed already, will quickly be severed, although garrisons are holding the outposts at the Hel Peninsula and the Westerplatte. It is believed that the Germans cannot advance further southward until their flanks are protected.” , The Paris correspondent of the United Press says Poland’s strategy is to weaken and confound the enemy by progressive retreats until the Poles reach fortified lines. It is explained that it would be suicidal for the Poles to engage in a pitched battle, in view of the superiority of German manpower and equipment. A basic feature of the Polish plan is quick movement, with each change designed to force the Germans into abrupt and costly changes of plans. Thus the retreat is according to plan and the invaders will! be forced to pay heavily for their fron- i tier advances.