Reported Advance With Tanks to Hamar

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23002, 23 April 1940, Page 9

Reported Advance With Tanks to Hamar

GERMANS BUILD DEFENCES AT TRONDHEIM (TKITED PKES3 ASSOCIATION—COPVHIGHT.) (Received April 23, 2 a.in.) LONDON, April 22. The Stockholm correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says the Norwegian Legation confirms a report that British forces, supported by Norwegians, recaptured Elverum. It is also confirmed that a French division landed at Namsos. Swedish press reports persist in their assertion that British troops are advancing in the Gudbrandals valley equipped with tanks and heavy armaments, and that they have made contact with the Norwegians north of Lake Mjosen. There is no confirmation of the earlier reports that the Allies have captured Hamar. The Germans bombed Lillehammer, 30 miles from Hamar, in the Gudbrandals valley, this indicating the presence of strong enemy forces at least close to Hamar. A Norwegian communique says: “The Germans on Saturday, supported by aeroplanes and artillery, attacked on both sides of Lake Mjosen, but our troops held their positions. The Germans also machinegunned and bombed Lillehammer and dropped leaflets. A house near the railway was set on fire. “The Germans bombed other towns, including Andalsnes. Many aeroplanes were seen flying northwards, and one was shot down.” The German Official News Agency says that German troops, advancing rapidly from the south, reached Lillehammer. The Stockholm correspondent of the “News Chronicle” says that 3000 Germans are feverishly attempting to strengthen the defences of Trondheim, from which 35,000 civilians, representing half the population, have been evacuated to the hills. The Germans are fearful of being trapped from north and south. The German attempts to link up the forces in Bergen, Trondheim, and Oslo are now completely foiled.

A War Office communique states that operations in Norway are continuing, British troops operating in conjunction with the Norwegian forces. Swedish sources report that Allied and German troops are fighting at Namsos. Swedish reports state that the British troops have reached the Hamar-Elverum' sector, north of Oslo, where the hard-pressed Norwegian forces are fighting gallantly. A Stockholm report states that the British troops travelled from the - north partly by road and partly by rail. There is no confirmation, however, of the report that British troops have occupied Hamar, from where an important railway line runs north-west. A German communique claims the bombing of British troops at Namsos, north of Trondheim. A War Office communique says that extensive damage was done to Namsos, but

the only Allied loss was the sinking of one British trawler. The Berlin News Agency announces that enemy naval forces yesterday shelled Narvik, which is still in German hands. Heavy fighting appears to be developing first in the northern Trondheim area, to which the Allied forces, according to unofficial reports, are advancing from the landing point at Namsos. The Germans are desperately attempting to rush reinforcements to this area by air, and are fortifying outlying points. - Unconfirmed reports say that = the Allies reached the Hamar area from landing points at Molde and Andalsnes, in Romsdal fjord, by advancing by road and rail along the line of Gudbrandals Valley. The Germans in the Narvik area are virtually trapped, and successive blows by the Royal Air Force and the Fleet on German bases in southern Norway are making their situation serious.