POLISH FIGHTING FORCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 302, 22 December 1939, Page 9

POLISH FIGHTING FORCES

ARMY NAVY AND AIR FORCE RISE AGAIN AGREEMENTS WITH BRITAIN AND FRANCE l British Official Wireless 1 RUGBY, Dec. 20. Speaking to the Press in London, Major Illinsky, of the Polish military mission, outlined the Polish efforts being made to reorganise her fighting forces. “The Poles who were able to escape from Poland and make their way toward the friendly borders of France and Britain form the first nucleus of our army, the reorganisation of which in both countries is in progress, according to the agreements concluded ' with the British and French Governments/’ he said “The army, navy, and air force of , Toland exist again.’ Speaking of naval he recalled that Polish ships now consti- • tute a part of the Allied forces operating under the Polish flag under the = command of Polish officers and manned by Polish crews. A special i naval depot. Major Illinsky said, will be established with the purpose of, training further personnel and formation of reserves. Army Training ".As to our land forces, which are being trainea somewhere in France, it is intended to form four or five infantry divisions as well as armoured and mechanised units, taking into account the possibilities now available,’’ • he said. “The Polish Army will be under the Polish High Command and will remain to the end of hostilities as one of the Allied armies under the inter-Allied Supreme Command.’’ ! Training centres for officers and men for the Polish Army already were in full swing, he continued. “The average duration of such training centres & three months, and as the first of these courses was started already in the autumn we may calculate how soon the first large Pou.-ii units, fully train 'd, will he ready to leave their camps and fare again th? enemy.” Concluding, Major Illinsky said. "The organisation of the Polish Air Force units is divided into two equal groups, one in Britain and the ' in France. We were lucky to get out nf Poland a fairly large number of our Air Force personnel.” He could