SHOCK OF SURPRISE ATTACK ON NARVIK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 87, 12 April 1940, Page 7

SHOCK OF SURPRISE ATTACK ON NARVIK.

GERMAN STRATEGY.

Incredible Speed Of Nazi

Advance Guard.

DEFENDERS UNPREPARED

United Press Association.—Copyrltfit.

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

LOXDOX, April 11. The "New York Times" correspondent at Narvik says the German strategy appears to be to control railways and roads in the interior, nsinjr small forces, co-operating with destroyers at sea, in the hope of paralysing the Norwegians and reducing them to guerilla fighters.

Narvik's capture was incredibly quick, tho action lasting half an hour. In another half hour the Germans had established headquarters in the town and began climbing hills to establish fortifications.

The correspondent adds: "When we arrived on the scene we saw Germans facing hastily-assembled Norwegian guards in the market place. The Germans had machine-guns. We stood on one. ,-ide by a concrete wall and an officer waved away a curious oncoming crowd and demanded that the Nor' wefiinns surrender.

"They were not ready for action, and l>ein ? armed only with rifles they retreated before the Germans, * who occupied the post office and railway. The civilians were stupefied as the Germans advanced in the main street."

Confusion of Earlier Reports. Some confusion has. arisen from earlier reports that the .Allies had recaptured Bcrjren and Trondhjem and landed marines at Narvik, and have also riven an ultimatum to the Germans at Oslo. Naval circles in London are unable to confirm these reports.

Similar report?, however, continue to arrive from Sweden. The latest states definitely that British forces have driven the Germans from Narvik. It adds that the Germans tried to escape into Swedish territory by rail, but the Norwegians blew up several sections of the railway, along which. fight injr continues.

Stockholm reports also say the Norwegians have recaptured Ha mar. The Norwegian politician. M. Ilambro, described how a hand fill of heroes t-aved the Norwegian Government. He said an out post of Id men constituted the only troops covering thu transfer of the Government from Hamar to Elverum. They gave battle a German advance puard numbering 100, and succeeded in halting them. Nearly all the Norwegians were killed.