NAZI TROOPS MASSING

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23004, 26 April 1940, Page 11

NAZI TROOPS MASSING

Threat Seen To Sweden CONCENTRATIONS IN BALTIC (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) 4 (Received April 25, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 25. The Paris correspondent of the ‘‘Daily 'Telegraph” says that German concentrations at Baltic ports and aerial activity over Sweden are producing sombre forecasts of Sweden’s destiny. Troops are reported to be concentrated at Bornholm, Memel, Koenigsberg, Danzig and Stettin, from where transports laden with German detachments have sailed in the last few days. Nothing has since been heard of them, but the presence of icebreakers leads to the assumption that one of the German objectives may be the Aaland Islands. Forty German aeroplanes are seen each day over Sweden. The Germans claim that this is accidental. Another report from Paris says that military circles understand that the embarkation of German troops from Baltic ports is continuing steadily. From Stockholm it is reported that Sweden Is floating a defence loan of £30,000,000, and that the Swedish Parliament has passed a compulsory military service law applying to all citizens between 16 and 60 years to operate when necessary. Five German minesweepers entered Swedish territorial waters in the Skagerrak, but left as soon as they were challenged by Swedish patrol boats. A spokesman at the French War Ministry expressed the opinion that the war might soon spread to Sweden, “where important events appear imminent.” Meanwhile Sweden is taking fresh defensive measures. A grant of £6,000,000 has been made for the purchase of artillery materials and for the control of food prices. Steps are still being taken to clear up activities of the Nazis. Newspapers and documents relating to the activities of the Swedish National Socialist Party have been seized. The German press and radio campaign against Sweden continues. Sweden is accused of sympathy with Norway, and of presenting coloured accounts of the activities in Norway. The newspapers comment strongly on the repeated German flights over Swedish territory, declaring that these flights must be deliberate, and probably for photographic purposes. Big-scale German military preparations which are reported to be progressing at Memel, East Prussia, and along the Luxemburg frontier have accentuated anxiety in countries bordering the Reich. Residents in Luxemburg are hastily building tank traps opposite the German bridges across the Moselle. The Belgian State Guard raided German homes and discovered Uniforms. Several Germans were arrested. Foreign aeroplanes flew over Belgium several times yesterday. The Minister for Defence (M. Denis) said that some of the machines were identified as German and some as French. The anti-aircraft guns opened fire on them. It is understood that protests will be made. From Amsterdam it is reported that a decree virtually suspends the freedom of the press in the Netherlands and establishes a military censorship of newspapers. Licences can be revoked if criticism or presentation of news is in conflict with the Government's policy. ENEMY SHIPPING LOSSES BRITISH SUBMARINES TAKE TOLL LONDON, April 23. The submarines Sea Lion, Snapper and Sunfish have returned to their base after sinking from 35,000 to 40,000 tons of enemy shipping, including transports. British losses as a result of enemy action last week were three ships totalling 11,352 tons. There were no neutral losses. The German losses include the Turgenfrifzen (4465 tons), which is reported to have been sunk south of Stockholm, possibly by a mine. British warships captured the trawler Rhein. Submarines sank a 3000-ton ship, a 6000-ton ship, also another ship while in convoy on April 20, in addition to four others on April 15. The total German losses are now estimated at 450,000 tons. The German losses at Narvik are believed to total 52,108 tons, including the Janwellem. The total British losses of merchantmen amount to 672,778 tons. No transports have been lost since the start of the Norwegian campaign.