FAILURE IN NORWAY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 14074, 31 May 1946, Page 3

FAILURE IN NORWAY

BRITISH EXPEDITION

OF 1940

London, May 29

Inadequate preparations and difficulties of communication Avere the principal causes of the failure of the British expedition to Norway in 1 940, according to ,a despatch from the Commander-in-Chief, Lieuten-ant-General IT. R. Massy, submitted on May 13, 194 0* The despatch, published in a London Gazette supplement, pointed out that the expeditionary headquarters was ordered to he formed after active operations had started. Headquarters for the forces based on Andalisnes and Namsos was at Margate and, as the result of long communications and changes in , plans, wins never in touch with the situation.

General Massy stated that the supply position for southern Norway was disastrous. Guns Avere landed without idetachments, vehicles arrived without drivers and ( eA ? en frontline transport for the infantry was divorced from its units. He recommended that a system of combined operations, Avith unified command, should be adopted for future expeditions of a. similar character if the British were not to remain serious--Iv at a disadvantage.