A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 175, 19 April 1940, Page 10

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Other parts of l'.iiropc today share with Norway the interest of all who survey the European scene and try to read aright the signs and portents that conic from many points. In Norwav British and Norwegian troops are getting the. upper hand in the north. The Norwegians admit withdrawals in several southern sectors, whereas they tire said to lie holding their formidtmie opponent at other vital points. 'I he Germans repeat the claim that forces from Trondheim hold a line across the waist of the country to the Swedish border.

.Except for reports of the lighting about Narvik, the movements of the Allied forces are still shrouded in mystery in conformity with the determination of the authorities to give away no information to the enemy. Otherwise, British strategy is concentrating on the three main west coast ports held by the Germans, with particular attention being directed at the airfields so necessary for German reinforcements and which the Germans have said they will use for raids on England later. The usefulness of these aerodromes must have been verv considerably reduced by air and naval attacks. In ot near Trondheim, it is reported, lie the Scharnborst and the Deutschland, badly battered. “The 'fimes'’ counsels fast and decisive action by the Allies, saying time is running short and that all depends bn the rapid arrival of effective help both in the north and the south-west. I his journal adds that neutrals are closely watching events, and that the future policies of both Russia and Italy may be based on what happens in the north. To place beside these comments there is a statement by a highly-placed British official who says that the Allied operations are likely to be conducted on a large scale and pushed home as speedily as possible.

Recent events and tendencies in Italy have led a British Minister to sav that though Britain has no quarrel with Italy, she would like to know where Italy stands. French opinion approves the nutting of this question. The Minister in question, Air. Cross, also gave his opinion that a German attack on Sweden is very likely. American commentators are apparently examining the possibility of Italy entering the war. The Balkan pot is simmering again. Russian and Rumanian troop movements toward Bessarabia arc reported, and there is talk also of Russian and Turkish naval movements. Russia has found cause for complaint against Rumania and German divisions are on the Yugoslav and Hungarian borders. J heir eyes opened by Norway's painful experience, Sweden, Holland, Belgium. Yugoslav, Rumania, and Turkey are hard at work sorting out undesirables Iron) among their populations. A speech by Mr. Anthony .Eden is notable for his telling contrast between the imperialism of Britain and that of Germany. On die one hand is the German conception ot one race ruling all otheis as its inferiors. Opposing this is the British belief that there can be no hope for mankind unless peoples small and great are free to develop their own existence in security and peace. No more vital issues, he says, have ever been fought out in any war in history. 'fbe United States has made it perfectly clear that she is watching verv carefully future possibilities in the Dutch East Indies, jmd her policy in the I’licil'ic is said to be hardening. One American correspondent goes as far as discussing the possibility oi a Japanese swoop on these rich islands.