NORWEGIAN BATTLE LINE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1940, Page 7

NORWEGIAN BATTLE LINE

SNOW ASSISTS DEFENDERS ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. — COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, April 14. Heavy snowfalls have given the Norwegians a brief respite and enabled them to complete their mobilisation. They have established an approximate battle line in south-eastern Norway close to the Swedish frontier, running from the vicinity of Halden and Sarpsborg northwards to Kongsvinger, and westwards to Eidsvold. A tiny army is established on the east bank of the Glommen River.

Germany has already claimed the capture of all the above-mentioned points. Guerrilla fighting has broken out in the mountains round Oslo, the Norwegians using ski patrols. Swedish and Finnish volunteers have arrived at the front. A Norwegian General Staff communique admits a slight German success near Sarpsborg. It says the Germans captured Larvik, Kongsberg, and the village of Veje, 50 miles from Kristiansund. It adds that the situation at Trondheim is unchanged. The Germans are flying reinforcements to Trondheim from Oslo. A German communique states that troops have consolidated their positions at Trondheim. Bergen, Stavanger, and Kristiansund. They have been continually advancing from Oslo northwards, eastwards, and westwards.

A German communique says 100 Norwegian officers and 1500 mep' laid down their arms during the fightingin south-eastern Norway.

It is reported from Stockholm that five big German transports arrived in Oslo fiord last Saturday, enabling the Germans to launch heavier attacks on the Norwegian lines. GERMAN ADVANCE CHECKED LONDON, April 15. Wireless listeners in Amsterdam report hearing an unidentified radio announce in Norwegian that Narvik is now entirely in British hands. The Germans so far have lost 1,600 dead and wounded. Small groups are retreating inland, pursued by Norwegian troops.

Latest authentic reports received by the Foreign Office in London this afternoon from the Norwegian Army Headquarters state that the region round Bergen and the west coast is being actively organised. From other reports there is no doubt* that the German advance has been checked in most places. Near Oslo their further advance is not more than 50 miles, and the Norwegians are fighting back with some success. The Germans have met with checks north of Oslo, and in Oslo itself the Germans are meeting with difficulties because of the destruction of transport and the power station. Oslo was without light on Saturday night, and liecause of the non-arrival of supply ships is short of food. Rationing has been introduced. AIR ATTACKS ON KING. PROCLAMATION TO NATION LONDON, April 15. The Foreign Office announces: “The Norwegian Government has 1 informed the British Government that German aircraft evidently have orders to attack the King of Norway personally, as they are bombing each successive place in which he staj r s. This action fellows the refusal of King Haakon to negotiate in person with the German Minister at Oslo.”

King Haakon has issued a proclamation appealing to Norwegians to save the freedom and independence of the Fatherland.

He said: “Our powerful antagonist has not refrained from bombing a peaceful people and their cities and towns. Women and children have been subjected to death and inhuman sufferings. I cannot tell you where I and the Crown Prince and the Government are staying. The German forces directed a violent attack against us while we were staying in a small, unfortified and unprotected place. Highexplosives and incendiary bombs and machine-gun fire were used, against civilians in the most ruthless and brutal manner. The assailants could have had only one motive —to annihilate all of us who are assembled to decide questions for the best future' of Norway.”

The story of how King Haakon escaped from German air bombs- at Nybergsund by fleeing with Government officials into the forest was told in a report to the United States Department of State by the United States Ambassador to Norway (Mrs. Florence Harriman), who is- at present at Holies, Sweden, says a United Press Association message. Mrs. Harriman herself was in Elverum during the bombing. She hopes to rejoin the Government at the earliest opportunity. DECISION TO FIGHT LONDON, April 15.. The “News Chronicle’s” Stockholm correspondent reveals that Norway’s decision to fight hung for some time in the balance. King Haakon refused the Government’s resignation. The Government asked the Storthing for powers to negotiate an agreement with Germany. Three negotiators w r ere duly appointed (as reported) to go to Oslo. Then news came of how a handful of Norwegian soldiers had repulsed German soldiers who were pursuing King Haakon. Meanwhile the pudpet Government was created in Oslo. These incidents turned the scale. Norway decided to fight.

ENCIRCLING OSLO.

(Recd. April 16, 1<2.45 p.m.) LONDON, April 15.

By the occupation of Halden, Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad, the ‘ Germans now control the whole south-eastern corner of Norway, otherwise known as. Lower Ostfold. WRile the whereabouts of the British forces in Norway remains secret, there are necessarily vital gaps in any attempt to picture the strategy of the Norwegian de.fenders.

On the contrary, the invaders are obviously engaged in operations aiming at the creation of a ring round Oslo. The occupation of Tongsberg and Larvik, on the western side of Oslo Fiord, must be considered a primary precaution against attacks from the sea, which the German command of Lower Ostfold also renders difficult.

*'' . ■ Th,e Germany meanwhile, are vigf orously attacking on a wide front in the hinterland, northward and northeastward 1 of Oslo, aiming at'the capture of Kongsvinger, thus further diminishing Norwegian and Swedish railway communication. Norwegian resistance is stubbornly centred in' this section, but the Germans are reported to have crossed the surface of the Glommen River, and are now engaged in severe fighting near Santer, four miles westward from Kongsvinger. Hundreds of Norwegians are reported to have been killed hereabouts. The defenders are maintaining their positions still further west, in the j Skarnes region, where increasing concentrations of Germans are reported. | NORWEGIAN RALLY. | I (Recd. April 16, 1.40 p.m.) LONDON, April 15. Fighting continues near Elverum, where German planes machine-gunned air assembly of unarmed Norwegian soldiers. Many Norwegian soldiers are rallying in the upper regions of Ostfold. Fear of their presence caused the Geyman evacuation of Kornsjoe, a frontier station. They fell back to Halden. Snow and heavy clouds are hindering land and air activity in this region. Refeugees from Halden report that only . 400 Germans are occupying the fortress of Fredrikstad. The Norwegian radio declares that the Germans landed troops by parachute near- the Domass railway junction, on the Oslo-Trondheim railway. The 8.8. C. Norwegian service tonight included a statement that Narvik and the surrounding country _is in the hands of the British troops. MESSAGE TO NATION ARRANGEMENTS WITH ALLIES, RUGBY, April 15. The following message to Norwegians was issued by the Norwegian Government on Monday evening: — “The help for Norway, which the Norwegian Government has asked the British and French Governments to provide is being given, and is assuming great proportions. The first signs ; of it are the recapture of Narvik and the country around it. A number of Norwegian pilots have already taken up their duties with the Navy. Nor- , wegian officers attached to the expeditionary force have arrived in England, ' and have established contact with the 1 military authorities. Until further or- i ders, Norwegian subjects are instructed to accept as legal currency, in payment of goods and services given, English and French coins and notes, as the Allied troops have not had time to obtain sufficient Norwegian money. The official rate of exchange will be an- ( nounced after an agreement has been j reached between the Norwegian State Bank and the Bank of England. The i Norwegian Government has arranged' ] with the British Government that un- j til further orders, Norwegian prices j for goods and the billeting fees, which . obtain in England, shall be recognised. ‘ Details will be announced later from j the 8.8. C. and the broadcasting station ] of the Norwegian Government as soon c as it is set up. - 4

All Norwegian military and civil authorities are ordered to enter into the closest contact with our British and French allies, and give them all the assistance they can. Every Norwegian subject has a duty to support the authorities in every way, communicate to them all information about the activities and movements of the enemy, and about treason and espionage in Norway. In the hard times which lie before us, the Norwegian people must establish their rights to a victorious national life and national independence. Let the words of our national anthem ring in every Norwegian heart. “We all are ready io fight when it is required of us for our peace.”

LABOUR APPEAL.

RUGBY, April 14

A broadcast message from British trade union leaders to the trade unionists of Norway says: “The brutal invasion of your country by the Germans will not go unpunished. British soldiers are coming to assist the gallant Norwegian people in their resistance to the German invaders. Wherever British soldiers are met, assist them by every means in your power. If you know where the Germans are, tell the British. If they require food, feed them. If they require shelter, give it to them. If a soldier wants a lift, take him to his destination.

“We shall speak to you again, but in the meantime think for yourselves how best you can help the English soldiers and your country. Pass on the word to as many people as possible. See that it travels to the outlying farms. See that it is known in the factories, on the wharves, along the rivers, and in the hills.” CONSPIRACY. AND TREACHERY GERMAN PLOT REVEALED (Received April 16, 10.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, April 15. A copyright article in the “Chicago Daily News,” by Leland Stowe, from Stockholm, for the first time gives the story behind Germany’s paralysing twelve-hour conquest of Norway on April 9. He says that the Norwegians still have ■ not the .slightest conception how the tragedy happened. Oslo and the seaports were not captured by means of armed force. They were seized as a result of a gigantic conspiracy, ranking among the mostaudacious and best-oiled political plots in the last century. By means of bribery, infiltration of Nazi agents, and the treason of a few-highly placed army and civilian officials, Germans built a Trojan horse, spiked the Navy’s guns, and reduced the fortresses to impotence. It is most-reliably stated that the German troopships sailed on the night of April 4, three days before the British mined the Norwegian coast; also that the German generals strongly opposed the invasion on the grounds that communications would be dangerously exposed. Continuing, Leland Stowe says: On the night of April 5, the German Legation at Oslo invited 200 influential people to see a film of the destruction of Poland, after which the Minister explained that it was -a peace and not a war film, since it showed that nations electing for peace saved their people from suffering. , Three and a-half hours before Dr. Koht received the ultimatum on April 9, the commanders of three Norwegian warships at Horten were ordered, ostensibly by the Foreign Office, to land their crews unarmed, and not to oppose the Germans. Meanwhile, the mines in the Oslo fiord narrows I were disconnected, enabling German penetration. A cruiser, believed to be

the Emden,, and two submarines reached Horten half an hour before Dr. Koht received tne ultimatum. The Norwegians were helpless, but the .mine-layei’ Olaf Trygvason, which, returning unexpe.cte.dly for repairs, had not received the faked orders, block.ed the entrance and torpedoed the cruiser and one submarine.

, BASES AGAINST BRITAIN. i (Received April 16, 10.25 a.m.) I .BERLIN, April 15. 1 An official declared that Germany I henceforth will make the Norwegian I coast a base for aerial aind submarine attacks against Britain./;.;, .. | He added that; continual British naval and Air Force attacks on Narvik. Bergen, Stavanger, and ’ .other' points have released Germany from her guarantee not to use Denmark and Norway as bases, for' action against Britain, ...

SWEDISH NAZIS ARRESTED '•PARIS, April 15. The Swedish Government has thwarted a Nazi coup, planned for the night of Thursday or Friday. Swedish Nazis had been instructed to seize “nerve centres” throughout the country, but the police arrested several and placed others under observation. NEUTRAL REACTIONS. ■ . RUGBY, April 14.. The appreciation shown in most neutral countries of the significance of the events of the 'last few days has been noted here with satisfaction. In North and South American countries in particular the extravagant Nazi claims appear ,to have failed entirely to impress. In certain neutral countries more exposed to the stress of Nazi pressure, a reluctance to acclaim Allied successes is fully understood. Sweden’s precarious position especially wins general sympathy, and.the statement by Mr. Hansson, the Swedish Prime Minister, has made an excellent impression. Contact is being maintained between the Swedish Minister in London (Baron Palmstierna) and the Foreign Office. The Germans reached the Swedish frontier, advancing from Halden, and took over the frontier post at Kornsjoe. Three thousand Norwegian troops who crossed into Sweden at Kornsjoe have been disarmed and interned. Fighting continues at Rakkestad. BRITISH PRESS COMMENTS. HRUGBY, April 15. The position of the smaller neutral countries in the light of recent developments is discussed in the Press. “The Times”' draws attention in particular to the tone of the German Press, and of official German statements on th subject of Sweden, which it says show that the invasion of yet another neutral would be undertaken without the slightest liesitatioil, if the invaders should get into difficulties in Norway. What therefore has been gained during tire" last few days is a demonstration that ' the power of the Allied fleets is being and will be resolutely and effectively used. The “Manchester Guardian” says the tactics of a sudden, treacherous blow have so tar paid Hitler too well. Neutrals will take -note of the Narvik rebuff to the Nazis —both in countries like Holland and Sweden, in Turkey and the Balkans, they will recognise that where our sea arm stretches we can and do give help. Narvik is only a beginning. , , The “Mail” says: The doubts which Germany may have sown among some of her neighbours as to the- certainty .of Allied victory, are being finally dispelled. ' «. THE LATEST MESSAGES GERMAN SHIPS DAMAGED (Recd. April 16, 1.20 p.ni.). LONDON, April 15. Two German cargo ships were badly damaged by a mine in the Kattegat. A Danish ferry boat was damaged by an explosion in the’ Great Belt. There were no GERMAN-BELGIAN TRADE BRUSSELS, April 15. The German trade delegation has gone to Berlin, after a satisfactory conclusion was reported to have been reached in the trade negotiations.