BRIGHTER REPORTS

Evening Star, Issue 23565, 2 May 1940, Page 9

BRIGHTER REPORTS

CONSIDERABLE ALLIED ACTIVITY SPIRITED OPERATIONS BY NORWEGIANS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 1. „ (Received May 2, at 12.30 p.m.) After yesterday's batch of German claims from Norway, some of which wore the grim appearance of truth, to-day’s lack of confirmation of the invaders’ successes, plus the evidence of considerable Allied activity in various Norwegian zones, provides ground for a somewhat brighter assessment of the general position. Too much importance should not be attached to the German withdrawal from Roros, but apparently the Norwegians are more spiritedly operating in this district as well as between Tromso and Narvik, where the Norwegian 6th Division is reported to have cleared the Germans from Gratangen. According to Swedish reports the Allies repulsed Germans advancing from Stenkjaer. The Norwegians wiped out two patrols in their sector. Hegre fortress remains a thorn in the German side on the Trondheim front, for which reason it was subjected to venomous attacks to-day, which the garrison heavily repulsed. MR CHAMBERLAIN TO MAKE STATEMENT RUGBY, May 1. (Received May 2, at 9.50 a.m.) Mr Chamberlain announced that he hoped to be able to make a statement on the position in Norway in the House of Commons to-morrow. AMERICAN MILITARY SUPPLIES SEIZED BY NAZIS AT BERGEN NEW YORK, April 30. “It is learned on unimpeachable authority that the Germans have seized sizeable stocks of American military supplies cn route to Sweden and Finland, and may be using them against the Allies in Norway,” says the Washington correspondent of the ‘ New York Times.’ The seizure included 500 Thompson sub-machine guns, several million rounds of ammunition intended for Sweden, and 400 Ford trucks for Finland. All there were at Bergen when the Nazi invaders took over. BRITISH DESTROYER LOST SWEDISH PAPER'S REPORT STOCKHOLM, May 1. (Received May 1, at 11 a.m.) The ‘ Svenska Dagbladet ’ says a British destroyer was blown up during the German raids throughout the day of April 30 in Namsos. The whole ship disintegrated when the magazine exploded, and scores of marines and sailors were killed. The Germans lost two planes. SWEDEN DETERMINED WILL DEFEND HER NEUTRALITY SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER STOCKHOLM, May 1, (Received May 2, at 11.50 a.m.) M. Hansson (Prime Minister), in a speech, said Sweden was determined to assert and defend her neutrality by all the means in her power. “ This neutrality,” he said, “ implies that we demand that our independence and freedom should be left unmolested. We know the belligerents’ assurances are made not only upon goodwill, but also in consciousness of our unyielding determination and ability to defend our neutrality and integrity.” WESTERN FRONT PATROL ACTIVITY LONDON, May 1. The official French war communique states that there has been patrol activity on the Western Front in several areas. Yesterday evening there was an encounter in the Vosges area between a reconnaissance party and an enemy patrol. MORNING COMMUNIQUE PARIS, May 1. (Received May 2, at 9.25 a.m.) The morning communique reports patrol activity in the region of Nied and some artillery fire in the region of the Blies. POLICING THE DANUBE HUNGARIAN PROPOSAL REJECTED NAZI-SPONSORED SCHEME BELGRADE, May 1. (Received May 2, at 11 a.m.) It is officially stated that Rumania and Yugoslavia have rejected Hungary’s proposal for joint policing of the Danube, which is believed to have been advocated by Dr Clodius, the German trade commissioner.