INDICATIONS OF NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 84, 9 April 1940, Page 7

INDICATIONS OF NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.

U-BOAT SUM.

Norwegian Ships Recover Many Bodies.

MOMENTOUS SITUATION.

United Press Association.—Copyright,

(Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. A British warship is reported to have sunk a U-boat off Lillesand. Four unidentified bodies were found on the beach.

Three Norwegian chips later arrived at Lillesand carrying nine bodies and sixteen British and German seamen, some of whom wore uniform. Members of the crews declared that British armed vessels were sunk as well as a U-boat. A warship is reported to have engaged two U-boats. A single heavy explosion was heard at noon, and others at 3 p.m. further to seaward. Several 'planes circled the area. The other Üboat escaped. Customs guards saw a tanker of unknown nationality being torpedoed at 3 p.m. off Sandefjord, south of Stavanger. British warships are patrolling areas °n the Norwegian coast. Norway's coastal defence vessels are ready for orders. The German "armada" was reported to be moving in the direction of the Skager-Rak while Professor Koht, Norwegian Foreign Secretary, was addressing Parliament. He denounced the Allied Note as "indecent." Vigorous Norwegian Protests. These, were the most prominent features of the momentous situation arising from the Allied laying of minefields in Norwegian waters. u Professor Koht. referring to the severe, violation of our neutrality," said he replied to the British and French Ministers in CVlo that their Notes were an extraordinary violation. It was said, to address Norway hi|

the tone in which the Notes were couched. Norway would not surrender her trade pacts with Germany. The German wireless described, the Norwegian protest against the minelaying as slipshod and added that the Allied action had thrown the Norwegians into a panic, as they feared the nation would soon be involved in war.