WARSAW, Sept. 1, 1939 (UP) - President Moscicki proclaimed a state of war in Poland today after German airplanes had bombed Polish cities, including Warsaw, and German troops had smashed across the frontier from Slovakia to the Baltic. The state of war proclamation was in no way a declaration of war.
"The entire Polish nation, blessed by God, will march to victory," the President's proclamation declared as anti-aircraft guns around the capital burst into action for the fourth time since dawn.
The state of war proclamation by the President was a domestic measure designed to put wartime regulations into effect. Poland probably will seek to avoid an outright declaration of war to avoid handicaps that might be imposed on the nation by the United States neutrality law.
The proclamation issued by the President was required by the Polish constitution in order to put the nation fully on a wartime basis. Political sources said that the Sejm (Parliament) might be summoned shortly.
An official announcement said three men and two women had been wounded in the bombardments of Warsaw. No fatalities were mentioned.
It was officially announced that Germany began the war with an air and land action against Westerplatte, a Polish munitions base in Danzig harbor, at 5 a.m.
The first bombardment at Warsaw began with heavy detonations outside the city. Apparently most of them were anti-aircraft barrages, but some possibly were bombs.
The explosions were almost continuous, then the drone of big planes was heard.
In another moment there was a terrific explosion near the central station. Anti-aircraft guns were blasting the sky.
People stood immobile in doorways, looking at the sky. The first discernible movement was a flight of pigeons from the roofs. They settled back, then fluttered away again.
Then the sirens signaled "All clear." People immediately emerged from cellars and trench shelters and proceeded calmly to work. Buses were on the streets in a few minutes, taking their regular runs.
Military circles said that "apparently general fighting has begun at most parts of the frontier."
Every able-bodied man in Poland of 18 and 40 was under arms. Poland had an army of 3,500,000 and although it had less armaments than Germany, it had more men in the field and there were plenty of rifles and bullets for all. Moreover, Polish morale had never been so high and there were millions more men beyond 40, capable and willing to fight.
The army was spread out along the full length of the German and Slovak borders. Cities were streaked with new air raid shelters. Gdynia Harbor at the mouth of the Gulf of Danzig was mined.
The government radio station, referring to Adolf Hitler's 16-point plan for settling his claims on Danzig and the Polish Corridor, said:
"In this cynical fashion the imperialistic plans of modern Huns are revealed before the entire world - Huns who spare no international law or morals. In the light of these demands we are first to conceive how necessary were Poland's military measures taken yesterday (mobilization of more reserves.")
Foreigners attempting to leave Warsaw were thrown into confusion by news that those wishing to travel by rail must obtain permission of authorities. Permission was extremely difficult to get because all officials were occupied with mobilization work.
It was announced that offensives were in progress toward Czestochowa, north of Katovice; toward Dziadowo and Mlawa, on the southeastern Prussian border; and toward Ciechanow, south of Mlawa.
Ciechanow is not more than 50 miles north of Warsaw but the Poles do not expect a big offensive to originate in East Prussia because the garrison there is believed to be too weak.
During the air raids on Warsaw, residents of the capital got their first chance to use the new, hastily constructed air raid trenches which have sprung up in all parts of the city.
Hardly had the all clear signal come when new crews of boys and girls were on the way to spots where new trenches were to be dug, or to existing ones which will be widened and deepened to hold more people.
The United States Embassy urged all who telephoned for advice that they go as quickly as possible to Riga, Latvia.
The Embassy telegraphed to the legation at Riga to ask the Latvian government to admit Americans without visas, which probably would be difficult to obtain.
Transportation to Riga was difficult because of railroad restrictions.
The Embassy hoped to establish a refugee organization, putting men in Brest-Litovsk, Poland, to establish a sort of modern underground railway, but with the co-operation of Polish authorities.
When the organization is established, all Americans registered at the Embassy and Consulate will be warned to leave, regardless of whether they ask for advice.