BRIEF RESPITE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20223, 16 April 1940, Page 5

BRIEF RESPITE

NORWAY’S DEFENCE HEAVY SNOWFALL GUERILLA FIGHTING DEFENDERS ON SKIS VOLUNTEERS GIVE AID SWEDES AND FINNS (Elec. Tel. Copyright-United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, April 14. Heavy snowfalls have given the Norwegians a brief respite and enabled them to complete the mobilisation of their army. » 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 Kingvinger 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 these points. Guerrilla fighting has broken out in the mountains around Oslo. The Norwegians are using ski patrols. Swedish and Finnish volunteers have arrived at the front.

A Norwegian General Staff communique admits a slight German success in the vicinity of Sarpsborg. It says that the Germans have captured Larvik, Kongberg and the village of Veje, 50 miles from Christiansand. It adds that the situation is unchanged. The Germans are flying reinforcements to Trondheim from Oslo. Consolidating Positions A German communique states that the German troops have consolidated their positions at Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger and Christiansand. They are continually advancing from Oslo northwards and eastwards. The communique says that 100 Norwegian officers and 1500 men laid down their arms during the fighting in south-eastern Norway. It is reported from Stockholm that five large German transports arrived in Oslo Fiord last Saturday, enabling the Germans to launch heavier attacks on the Norwegian lines. The Norwegians’ naval headquarters say that naval forces shot down three German planes. Their crews were taken prisoner. Another machine made a forced landing in Southern Norway. Three more made forced landings in Sweden.