MILITARY PACT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21184, 6 August 1940, Page 5

MILITARY PACT

BRITAIN AND POLAND SERVICE AS ALLIES AIR AND LAND FORCES (Official Wireless) (Received August 6, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 5 A military agreement defining the principles on which the armed forces of Poland will be organised for cooperation with the British forces j was signed by Mr Winston Churchill ; and Viscount Halifax on behalf | of Britain and General Sikorski and ; the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of Poland. The agreement, which reaffirms the determination of the two Governments to prosecute the war to a success conclusion, provides for the organisation and employment of Polish armed forces under the British Command, in its character as the Allied High Command, as armed forces of the Republic of Poland allied to the United Kingdom. In its task of reconstituting the Polish forces the Polish Government will be assisted by Britain, which has granted Poland the necessary credits to finance the cost of maintaining the Polish forces. The Polish Air Force will be reorganised from those officers and men of the Polish Air Force arriving in Britain, who will be selected for service by a joint Polish and British Board. In regard to duties, rights and amenities the Polish Air Force personnel will be treated on the same footing as the Royal Air Force personnel. Units of the Polish Air Force will be employed in the same manner as units of the Royal Air Force but, circumstances permitting, units of the Polish Air Force will operate together and may be used in support of the Polish Army when necessary. The Polish Air Force units will be provided with equipment of a similar kind and on the same scales as the corresponding units of the Royal Air Force. The supply, maintenance and training of the Polish units will be organised by the Royal Air Force. The Polish Air Force will adopt the same uniform as the Royal Air Force, with a distinctive Polish symbol and badges. The Polish Ensign will be flown with the Royal Air Force Ensign at all Royal Air Force stations where Polish units are based. Land Forces Organised The Polish land forces will be organised out of Polish troops in Britain and the Middle East. They will be completed by the mobilisation of Polish citizens living in Britain and by drafting volunteers from other countries. The Polish land forces will form the Army of the Sovereign Polish Republic and units will form an operational formation under Polish command. These forces will also be under British command. The Polish organisation, regimental colours and all distinctions, rank and badges will be retained, Britain supplying arms and equipment. All Polish forces will take the oath of allegiance to the Polish Republic.