Evening star., 1939-09-13
Berlin
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! Berlin
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would capitulate without long siege
On the Radon front four Polish
divisions. totaling about 10000 men.
were believed to have been facing
the Germans in an attempt to halt
them before reaching the Vistula.
Col. Gen. Walther Won Brauchitch,
German commander in chief, was at
the front to watch the Radon fight
ing yesterday.
Success there would open the way
for main German forces to move to-
ward Lublin, l08 miles southeast Of
Warsaw. Advance troops already
were reported in Lublin.
Poles Still Hold Warsaw.
! Warsaw remained in hands OF
Polish troops after night of bitter
fighting, but German military lead
ers asserted the capitals outlying de-
fenses are crumbling under steady
pounding of ground and air forces.
Apparently confident the fall of
the city is mere question of time,
the high command already was con-
centrating its attention on the next
phase of operations.
This was reported in reliable quar-
ters to involve determination to
drive through Poland to the Russian
| border, if necessary to crush the
Polish Army.
| Complete subjugation of Poland
was deemed necessary to permit
concentration of the Reich's full
strength on the western front.
Report of $4,000 Dead Ridiculed.
There was no official comment on
German casualties during the 13
days of fighting since the beginning
of the war, but informed quarters
ridiculed British press reports plac-
ing the Nazi dead at $4,000
Although there appeared to be an
increasing belief that the conquest
of Poland would prove stern task,
Germans showed no lack of conf
dence that the army, and particu-
larly the air force, could carry out
any assignment in prospect.
Behind the fast-moving German
armies, conquered Polish territory is
relatively thinly occupied by troops.
Near the German border, however
thousands of auxiliary troops have
been rushed into the area to assist
in rebuilding bridges and repairing
roads. In many areas these troops,
many of them 18-year-old youths
from the Labor Service, provide the
| only visible signs of occupation.
Since the campaign began, Sep
tember l, no rain of any conse-
quence has fallen in Western Poland
to impede the swift advance of the
highly y-mechanized German forces
Dust on some of the highways has
been so heavy that auxiliary troops
have been kept busy watering the
surface to facilitate movement of
motorized columns.
There was every indication the
German Army, organized to the
most minute detail. has been click
ing without a hitch. Despite poor
highway conditions, few disabled
German vehicles were to be found
in the wake of the advance.
Sniping to Bring Retaliation.
Villages behind the front were
desolate, many having been burned
as we'll as heavily bombed. How
ever. many of the inhabitants are
returning afoot or in wagons to
finish their harvesting.
The German supreme army COM
mand in council at the "headquar-
ters of the Fuehrer" decided mean
while on grim retaliation on Polish
civilian Snipers. Location of the
Fuehrer's headquarters was not dis
closed.
The announcement said this mill
| tary measure was necessary because
the Polish population had been en-
couraged to resort to sniping
through broadcasts, leaflets and ap-
peals by the Polish government.
The announcement added that the
German Army hereafter would re-
taliate "by every means calculated
to break Polish resistance"
To Meet British Blockade.
While large-scale operations in
Poland occupied the attention of
Fuehrer Hitler and Field Marshal
Hermann Goering, who conferred
at the front yesterday, the ad-
miralty was formulating a policy on
submarine warfare to meet the chal-
lenge of a British blockade.
There was obvious anxiety to
avoid repetition of the charges of
ruthless submarine warfare heaped
upon Germany during the World
War. Informed sources said the
Reich would let Britain set the pace
in a blockade, but that Germany
would match "an eye for an eye"
A government spokesman indl-
Gated German submarines would at
tempt to sink ships of any national
ity seeking to deliver tc England
products which Britain has declared
contraband in dealing with the
Reich.
Lie SpOhcoIIldIi od1l ooii1C ooAo "
communique would be issued shortly
explaining what steps Germany
would take to combat the British
blockade Meanwhile, officials were
unwilling to commit themselves ex-
cept to say Germany has no inten-
ton of violating international agree
ments on submarine warfare.
Threats to Neutrals Seen.
From semi-official quarters there
were veiled hints that neutral states
may have cause for regret, if they
permit England to persuade them
to discriminate against Germany.
The Reich proposed to maintain
trade relations with neutrals as near
normal as possible. Informed circles,