LONDON RALLY

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1942, Page 6

LONDON RALLY

NORWEGIAN ANNIVERSARY. RUGBY, May 17. To-day, is the anniversary of th& Norwegian independence. A rany he’d in London was addressed JW Mr. Alexander and the Norwegian Foreign Minister. Mr. Alexander reminded ms listeners that the day commenorates one of the earliest liberal constitutions of continental Europe. 1 constitution was still the basis of imeral institutions in Norway, winy “were transplanted temporarily i these islands, and will return again to the soil of the Norwegian & Mr. Alexander added that the Norwegian fleet now numbers s.xiythree ships, including destroye , corvettes, minesweepers, and toipccw boats, manned by four thousand o fleers and men. About four-fifths oi the Norwegian merchant fleet, totalling 5,000,000 tons, in 1940, successfully evaded the Germans and came under the Norwegian Government s control 1 in Britain. Seamen were continually escaping to Britain, The Foreign Minister said tnai Norwegians at home for the time being were bearing the brunt of the battle. Their fight, without arms, against such overwhelming aroused the deepest admiration. The Norwegians knew that right was on their side, but bitter experience hud taught them that right meant veiy little without power.