CONCERTED DRIVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 122, 22 April 1940, Page 8

CONCERTED DRIVE

BRITISH AND NORWEGIANS. GERMANS’ DISADVANTAGE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.,) LONDON, Ain-i'l 19. The Norwegian Government has annon need that it has established tull liaison with all arms of the British Forces. A British Staff Office has been established at the Norwegian Headquarters. . v The British and Norwegian,, forces appear to be massing for the expulsion of the Germans- from the north, and the consolidation of the line of advance running roughly eastward from, the area between Namsos and Trondheim. Swedish reports state that the Bluish and Norwegian forces control the railway from Namsos to . Stcnkjacr, but the engagements in this area apparently” are the result of German troops landed by parachute. The Germans are experiencing difficulty in this method of troop transpor tation owing to the mountainous country and the havoc the British have wrought at the aerodromes. Reinforcement by rail is eliminated owing to the destruction of bridges. The Germans are reported to nave advanced to Lev-anger, inland from Trondheim Fiord, hut it is now ascertained that a hunired Norwegians still hold the fortress at Hegre on which the most bitter German offensive has not made an impression. It is reported that the Germans pushing out from Oslo and Kongsymger have advanced to Flisa, 36 miles south-east of Elverum, which is north of Oslo.

NORWEGIANS ORGANISE.

TO WITHSTAND THRUST. LONDON, April 19. The Norwegians are organising a round Elverum and believe they can withstand the German advance hero long enough to enable the British and Norwegians to form up for a major drive towards Oslo. The Germans claim to have captured Hamar, north of Oslo. The Norwegians claim to hold virtually all of the Bergen region, except the town and the immediate neighbourhood. They are aipo applying pressure in the Trondheim area from the south and are reported to be forcing back tlie German force which is attempting to occupy the coast for the purpose ot preventing British landings. The Germans seem to control the majority of tlie important ports in South-West Norway, hut the invaders are in desperate straits at Narvik because the two forces are completely isolated from supplies and reinforcements. „ The Berlin radio claimed that GerTiian ’planes attacked British troop transports, directly hitting one just before it reached the Norwegian coast. . Stockholm reports that violent detonations to seaward lasting five hours.shook houses and smashed windows on the Swedish west coast this morning. A HARRIED KING..; HAAKON’S TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. (From .Davcntrv.), Mr Ritter, a Norwegian official who has arrived in London, described the German air attacks on King Haakon and his party. ■ . On one occasion they were forced to lie in a ditch’to escape the bombs. When there was a lull they made a dash for a wood, where they took shelter for two hours while bombs and bullets rained down upon them. The trees were smashed like matchwood and they were forced to hide behind trunks to avoid the missiles. Fortunately, none was injured. It would be interesting to learn how the Nazis have three times got to know the whereabouts of King Haakon, hut it is suspected that German spies have been parading as civilians to secure information. However, the King is now in a safe place which is being kept secret.