FIGHTING IN NORWAY

Evening Star, Issue 23553, 17 April 1940, Page 7

FIGHTING IN NORWAY

THE GERMAN CAMPAIGN ANOTHER TOWN CAPTURED DEFENDERS RESISTING IN NEARBY WOODS Press Association —By Telegraplv—Copyright LONDON, April 16. (Received April 17, at 9.50 a.m.) Kongsvinger, near the Swedish border, has fallen after heavy bombing. Swedish sources state that the Norwegians evacuated the town and fortress Heavy fighting is continuing in nearby woods. The Germans hav® blown up the radio station at Nottoden, whose broadcasts annoyed them. NEAR SWEDISH FRONTIER NAZI TROOPS' PROGRESS SOUTHERN NORWAY SEVERED FROM NORTH LONDON, April 16. (Received April 17, at 12.37 p.m.) According to unconfirmed reports received in Stockholm, the Germans have severed southern Norway from the north by capturing the heights of Skurdalavolden, opposite Storlien, thus reaching points three miles from the Swedish frontier and directly east from Trondheim. The Germans are reported to have rushed' troops by train from Trondheim through the area still under Norwegian control. Meanwhile the Norwegians are stubbornly holding the fortifications at Hegre and are also maintaining resistance at various points in southern Norway. The Germans vainly reattadked Elveron, the defenders of which are strongly placed on the Glommen River, and heavy snowfalls are impeding the German motorised units. Suicide patrols of Norwegian skiers are harass-, ing the German detachments. The invaders are believed to have evacuated Haldn because the forces are needed elsewhere. The whole of Lower Ostfold is plastered with proclamations exhorting the inhabitants to obey the Germans or suffer dire penalties. GERMANS RETREATING FROM NARVIK - TOWN HELD BY BRITISH MARINES LONDON, April 16. (Received April 17, at 12.50, p.m.), The German troops are retreating from Narvik and are reported to have occupied Bjoerfell station on the “ iron ora ” railway. The Norwegian High Command, broadcasting from Bodo, stated that British Marines were holding Narvik and the Norwegians were surrounding most of the retreating Germans. They also captured Germans dropped by parachute in several districts. Two German planes were shot down. The Swedish radio, which is intermittently jammed, announced that all ports in southern and western Sweden had been closed to foreign shipping, except Gothenburg, entrance to which was forbidden without a special permit. A.R.P. measures are being extended throughout Sweden. Alarms were sounded in several towns. Coastal batteries and warships fired on two planes, believed to be German, One made a forced landing on an island opposite Gothenburg. NAIVE NAZIS “WE DO NOT NEED SHIPS ANY MORE" ' GOTHENBURG, April 16. (Received April 17, at 12.50 p.m.) Officials persist that Germany is holding Narvik, and also claim that German troops have reached the Swedish frontier from Narvik after defeating the Norwegians. They admit that the British possibly landed at Harstad. The Wilhelmstrasse suggests that the German naval losses at Narvik were not - revealed for strategic reasons. A spokesman naively added: “ Theoretically we do not need ships any more, hut soon we shall show the world that we have still got a navy.” A GERMAN CLAIM BRITISH CRUISER BOMBED AND SUNK BERLIN, April 16. (Received April 17, at 9.50 a.m.) A High Command communique claims that planes bombed and sank a British cruiser off the Norwegian coast yesterday. A Sunderland flying boat was destroyed in the same action. “ PACIFICATION " PROCESS NAZI VERSION BERLIN, April 16, (Received April 17, at 10.30 a.m.) A High Command communique states: “ Two British planes were shot down when they attacked Savanger. The day was quiet round Trondheim and Bergen. “ The pacification of the south-east of Norway is progressing steadily. Our air force continued its activities in the North Sea and as far as Narvik. A British plane trying to penetrate Heligoland Bight was shot down and another forced down west of the Skagerrak. One German plane failed to return.”-