DEFENCE OF WARSAW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 September 1939, Page 8

DEFENCE OF WARSAW

UNSPEAKABLE INFERNO ENDURED IN LAST DAYS OF SIEGE. I CITY ALMOST RAZED TO GROUND By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 27. A Warsaw message, headed “Twen-ty-second day of Siege,’ stated: — “Warsaw lias endured an unspeakable inferno in the . last twenty-four hours. I’.ombing is almost continuous, coupled with heavy artillery fire. Tne.endiaiw bombs have increased the number ol fires which it is increasingly difficult to combat because of lack of water. “Crowds of refugees escaping from the burning and destroyed buildings through the bombed streets were killed and wounded by thousands. Scenes of indescribable misery have become a daily routine. The troops are fighting with marked heroism and successfully repulsing the enemy.” “Warsaw is being destroyed methodically, one district after another. The spirit of the population is unshaken. The heroism of the wonderful city hopes against hope that there will be a reply to her S.O.S. for as sistance and that she will receive ultimate deliverance, so that her sacrifice, unprecedented throughout history, will not have been made in vain. “Citizens killed since noon on Monday total two thousand. Epidemics are feared. Shells destroyed the last standing hospital. The'city is almost razed to the ground. Communications within the city have broken down owing to fires everywhere.” PRISONERS RELEASED OFFICERS AND NOBLES GAOLED. ACTION BY SOVIET FORCES. (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) MOSCOW, September 27. A Soviet broadcast says the Russian forces in the occupied territory are freeing prisoners indiscriminately in order to find room for arrested Polish officers, noblemen, capitalists and other enemies of the Soviet regime. Those released paraded at Vilna carrying red banners. Some who were imprisoned for Communist activities have been given responsible posts. MARTIAL LAW DECLARED BY GERMANS. CONTROL OF OCCUPIED TERRITORIES. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) BERLIN, September 27. Germany has ordered the establishment of martial law in the German occupied territories in Poland. General von Runstedt takes charges in the military sphere and Dr Franck heads the civil administration.