ATTACKS REPULSED

Evening Star, Issue 23564, 1 May 1940, Page 7

ATTACKS REPULSED

- FIGHTING IN NORWAY

ALLIES WITHDRAW TO POSITIONS heavy LOSSES INFLICTED ON NAZIS Presa Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, April 30. (Received May 1, at 9.30 a.xn.) A War Office communique states: “ In the Gudbrandsdals Valley on Sunday the enemy attacked- strongly, supported by tanks and low-flying aircraft. We repulsed all attacks. The enemy suffered heavy losses, including three medium tanks. During the night our troops made a short withdrawal to a position covering Damaas. “ Enemy air attacks on Andalsnes and Molde continued throughout the day. The situation at Namsos and Narvik is unchanged.” After German bombing attacks on Namsos yesterday a number of little red balls containing orange-coloured powder were found. It is believed that this is a new German device to spread flames started by incendiaries. [An earlier message stated that the Allies are being hard pressed on the Damaas front. An unconfirmed report states that the Germans are in possession of Ropos and Storen. The Allies, it is stated, are holding Jerkin, j ALLIES TIGHTEN NET CLOSING IN ON NARVIK LONDON, April 30. The Allied troops at Narvik have been reinforced, and it is understood that they are closing in. The Ore Company’s important property, presumably wharves and buildings, is burning. It is not clear whether the property was set on fire by the Germans or by the British bombardment. 9 APPROACHING CRUCIAL POINT GERMANS CLAIM IMPORTANT SUCCESSES LONDON, April 30. (Received May 1, at 11.40 a.m.) Events in Norway are rapidly approaching a crucial point vitally affecting not only the future course of the campaign in the strategically important Trondheim areas but the major operations in other Norwegian territories. The tide of battle at present is favouring the Germans in Central Norway. Whereas the latest War Office communique does not take the official story ■oiiVtHe 'fateful fighting ,in Damaas area past Sunday night’s tactical withdrawal the German High Command claims important successes in to-day’s fighting, including occupation of Damaas and Opdal, resulting in “ German control of the maini Oslo-Trondheim railway.” Thii implies confirmation of Swedish reports that the Germans have occupied the‘key town of Storen. According to a special German night communique the forces occupying Opdal came from Trondheim, while troops moving up the Gudbrandsdals Valley .from the north and south via Tonsaet made contact on the railway south-east-ward of Storen. FRONTIER NOT CROSSED (British Official Wireless;) RUGBY, April 30. (Received May 1, at 11 a.m.) It is authoritatively stated that no British officer or soldier has crossed the frontier into Sweden in the course of the presept campaign in Norway. GERMAN LOSSES WITHHELD WIDESPREAD DEMONSTRATIONS • LONDON, April 30. (Received May 1, at 10.35 a.m.) Czecho-Slovak circles have received information of widespread demonstrations in Germany because details of the losses in Norway have been withheld. Feeling is particularly high in Austriap and Sudeten areas. News of the sinking of the transports spread despite the censorship. DEFEATIST ATTITUDE DEPLORED M REASON TO EVACUATE NORWAY LONDON. April 30. (Received May 1, at 12.55 p.m.) Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal Leader), in a speech, deployed the defeatist attitpde of some of the British people, aqd asked the reason for the apparently inspired articles suggesting evacuation of Norway. He expressed the opinion that evacuation of southern apd central Norway was Only justifiable if the military situation was beyond repair. “ The country, is entitled to know whether the troops sent were highlytrained regulars with experienced officers and adequate equipment. If they were why was the British counterstroke so slow in coming?” he said.