LIBERATED LANDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1945, Page 5

LIBERATED LANDS

ARRESTS IN NORWAY QUISLING MENTALLY ILL LONDON, May 13. More than 400 leading Quislings have already been arrested.at Olso and many hundreds elsewhere in Norway. Jonas Lie, former Police Minister, and Henrik Rogstad, police chief, who barricaded themselves in a farm outside Oslo, committed suicide. Sverre Riisnaes, Minister of Justice, who was with them, surrendered: , , „ ~ The Oslo correspondent of the British United Press says doctors, after examining Vidkun Quisling, have no doubt that he is mentally deranged, but not sufficiently to affect his responsibility for his acts of treason. Quisling is apparently a megalomaniac and complains principally of the slight consideration given to his rank and of the disregard of his services to Norway. The preliminary hearing of his case will begin on Monday. A wealthy Quisling supporter, Dietrick Hildiscfi, formerly of the Norwegian Consular Service, has given himself up. A cheque for £15,000 from Quisling and letters showing that he had given military information to Germany over a period of 20 years, were found in his house. Brigadier Hutton, chief of the Allied mission in Norway, announced that the Russians were occupying only the northern part of Norway which they already hold, says Reuter’s Oslo correspondent. This is in accordance with the demarcation line agreed upon among the British, American, Russian and Norwegian Governments.

The Allied Control Commission has disclosed that approximately 400,000 Germans were in Norway at the time of the capitulation, says the Oslo correspondent of the Associated Press. They were all to be withdrawn from the cities and towns to concentration points by midnight on Friday. There was sporadic gunfire in Olso on Wednesday morning when Norwegian troops from Sweden entered the city, reports the Exchange Telegraph Agency. The firing is believed to have been the work of Quislings. Bad weather turned back most of the aircraft transporting Allied troops from England. British, American and Norwegian soldiers have liberated Harstad, Bodde, Svolvaer and Archipel in the Lofoten Archipelago. While the German forces in Norway are being rounded up, some details of the assistance given to the Norwegian underground movement by supplies dropped by British aircraft have been disclosed. Patriot fighters in Oslo alone received 1200 rifles, 1000 Sten guns, 120 Bren guns, and 120 light machine-guns. BRITISH FLEET WELCOMED

RUGBY, May 13

A British naval squadron anchored in Oslo harbour shortly after noon on Saturday, and the city made preparations to give the crews a great welcome when they stepped ashore. The people are crowding the dock area.

ARGENTINA’S GIFT

NEW YORK, May 11

Argentina has notified Norway that she is giving absolutely free forty thousand tons of wheat to help in the food problem, says the “Herald Tribune.”

Norway voted, with Russia, against the -Argentina’s immediate admission to UNCIO. In view of this fact Argentina's move is considered significant. Norway has not previously participated in the Argentine wheat market. Therefore, says the correspondent it is believed this is Argentina’s first step in bidding for Norway business.

DANISH REJOICINGS

WELCOME TO MONTGOMERY

LONDON, May 12.

Marshal Montgomery arrived at the Kastrup airfield, Copenhagen, at 11.30 a.m. local time on Saturday, says a Copenhagen message. He was met at the airport by the Danish Cabinet and was heartily welcomed by the Prime Minister ('Mr. Buhl), who said: “We are proud and happy to see you.” Then Marshal Montgomery drove from the airport to the centre of Copenhagen, first in a tank and then in an open car in which he stood up, waving in response to the cheers of the enthusiastic crowds lining the route. Later he drove to the Royal Palace to see King Christian, who placed his personal car at Marshal Montgomery’s disposal. King Christian gave a luncheon at Amalienborg Castle in honour of Marshal Montgomery. Those present included members of the Danish Royal Family, the Danish chiefs of staff, members of the Cabinet, and Air Marshal Coningham. After King Christian had conferred on him the Grand Cross of the Order of Bonneborg, with Diamond Star, Marshal Montgomery was received by representatives of the Danish Resistance Movement. On his way back to the airport, from which he left in the afternoon, he was again cheered by crowds. He emphasised that the Danish Resistance Movement had been second to none. The Danish Navy returned home on Friday. Torpedo-boats, minesweepers and patrol craft, which were the only vessels the Germans had not seized, sailed in, to salutes from Danish and British craft lining the harbour. RearAdmiral Holt, on behalf of the British Navy, later officially returned the naval base to Denmark.

It is officially revealed that Sweden during the latter stages of the German occupation of Denmark supplied the Danish underground movement with 7000 pistol and machine-gun bullets and 5000 grenades. A total of 70 tons of munitions was sent to Denmark with the sanction of the Swedish authorities. All arrived safely.

KING LEOPOLD ILL

LONDON, May 13. Reuter’s Brussels correspondent says that King Leopold, in a letter to his brother, Prince Charles, Regent of Belgium, said that his health after his captivity did not allow him to take up his Royal function again. He therefore asked the Regent to carry on. The letter was officialy disclosed last night after a Belgian Cabinet meeting. The correspondent notes that the letter does not say that King Leopold has abdicated, but merely that he is unable to resume office immediately. Reuter’s Brussels correspondent says: M. Vanacker told the Press that King Leopold is really ill. It is by no means a diplomatic illness.