GERMANS PUZZLED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 123, 23 April 1940, Page 7

GERMANS PUZZLED.

BY ALLIED STRATEGY. (British Official Wireless.) Received April 23, 10.32 a.m. RUGBY, April 22. Military experts in London express keen .. satisfaction at the speed with which the extremely successful operation of effecting the junction ot the British and Norwegian forces in East Norway was conducted. The Germans appear to have been definitely puzzled regarding the whereabouts of the British troops. Broadcasts suggest in Germany that they have been completely puzzled as to the whereabouts of the British during these early stages of the Norwegian campaign. The fact that one recent German broadcast roundly declared that there were no British troops in or near Narvik, which, according to a later broadcast, mas ot no strategic importance whatever, surwests that in Germany the authorities’ were without information as to what was going on. The mountainous nature of the country over which the Norwegian campaign will be‘waged will involve the employment of small mobile iorces. There'will, it is anticipated, be no room for big attacks, consequently junior officers, n.c.o.’s, and private soldiers will have full scope to show their individual initiative. ... . The artillery employed will probable be confined to light mountain guns.

It is now clear that the next few weeks will tost the possibility ol the Germans maintaining the force upon land by air alone in the northern part of the country. British forces who had made contact found the morale of the officers and men of the Norwegian Army very high. Hitherto equipment had been lacking, but more arms are now being supplied.