Evening star., 1939-09-09
Third Of Nation
Probably Held
By Invaders
Unfortified Town
Suffers One Of
Worst Bombings
By LLOYD c. LEHRBAS,

NV ~ ~
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
IWOW LEMBERG Poland,
Sept. 8-(By Courier to Bucharest. .
Overwhelming German forces led
bv strong motorized units have occu-
pied most of Western Poland in
week of bitter fighting and now are
attacking Warsaw in what may be
one of the decisive battles OF the war
In an attempt to annihllate the
Polish Army before their British
and French allies get into action
on the Rhine front, the Germans
have thrown at least 60 divisions and
an extremely large number of artil-
lerv and mechanical units into
action for a swift kill German
Army divisions usually have 10000
to 10000 men.
A lack of systematized official Po-
aish information makes it impossible
to draw lines on a map of Poland
showing the cities and towns already
occupied by German forces.
AS far as can be determined on the
Polish side, however German forces
have advanced into Poland from the
north east and south occupying
most of the country except the
slowly diminishing wedge which
juts east from Warsaw.
Third of Nation Probably Seized.
IF German claims are correct
the Nazi army has taken over
about a third of POland)
The capitals fate depends on
whether a gigantic German pincer
movement is successful in nipping
Warsaw off from its narrowing link
with eastern Poland.
Even greater Importance is at
tached. however, to whether the
Polish Army must withdraw east
ward before the north and south
points of the pincers meet-near
Warsaw-bottling up any Polish
forces still north, south and west
OF Warsaw.
When I left Warsaw Wednesday
night with Maj. William H. Colbern
the United States Military Attache,
the Germans had advanced almost
to within artillery range OF the
capital and strong motorized units
were spread out to attack from a
dozen directions.
Advancing German forces and re-
peated bombings had left only one
route of escape-through Lublin, 100
miles southeast of the capital.
30 Killed in One Raid.
German warplanes in daily raids
have inflicted severe damage and
heavy casualties on Polish indus
trial towns and communications CEN
ters.
Thirty were killed, many wounded
and over 200 homes and two square
blocks of business structures burned
In one raid on TomasZow, half way
between Lublin and LWoW, in one
of the worst bombings I have seen
In Poland's industrial section.
Villagers feared many others had
been killed or would be burned to
death in fires which were burning
still when 1 passed through yester-
day. The towns only physician was
among the dead.
With telephone and telegraph
communications interrupted and nc
autos. horses or other means OF
Transportation available, it is i'm
possible to make survey or the
damage done by German raiders.
Travelling in a blundering old mo-
tor car, requisitioned and filled with
gas for us by Polish authorities
Mai. Colbern and I were warned
miles away of the TomaszoW bomb
ings by seeing huge fires on the
horizon as we approached at night
Bombed on Market Day.
Coming closer, We met villagers
and peasants leaving the town with
what possessions they could save
We found half the town, OF 5000 In
habitants. was in flames.
Standing on its edge we counted
more than 40 white stone chlmneys
looming from the smoke and scores
more were in the furiously blazing
business district.
A weeping Jewess. between sobs
gave us the story of what had hap
pened. 1t was market day and the
town was filled with peasants from
the surrounding countryside. About
3 pm. droning was heard in the
sky and some villagers looked up to
see nine specks.
Suddenly German planes ap-
peared and swooped low as the vii
layers ran for cover. Terrific ex-
plosions shook the town as incen-
diary and a number of smaller
explosive bombs dropped from the
planes.
Town Was UnfOrtified.
The German planes came so low
the Jewess said, that one could see
the pilots and crew leaning out tc
see what havoc they had caused.
A village policeman a peasant ir
q one-horse cart and dozens of 9th.
ers told the same story during the
hour we watched the town burn
All said there were no troops ir
Tomaszow nor any manufacturing
establishments which could be
classed as war industries. There
were no anti-aircraft guns and there
was nothing to indicate it was &
military objective.
Peasants passing water bucket.
from hand to hand in an emergenc,
brigade were trying to save th'
houses still not ablaze, but they hae
RiVen I'D the rest as doomed