Heavy Fighting in Copenhagen on Saturday

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 206, 31 August 1943, Page 5

Heavy Fighting in Copenhagen on Saturday

LONDON, Aug. 29. Open rebellion is reported to have broken out in Denmark as the result of the issue of the German proclamation placing the whole country under martial law. Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says that six Danish warships, including gunboats and torpedo-boats, have arrived at Aialmo and Landskrona (Sweden) and seven otner warsnips arc reported to have reached Landskrona, carrying a large number of civilians, including the members of the Danish Government, One torpedo-boat which arrived at Malmo fled from Copennagen under the fire' of German guns. It is stated that heavy lighting occurred in Copenhagen on Saturday night when Danish seamen fought a delaying action while the fleet was being scuttled. Seamen also blew up munition dumps and port installations.

The Associated Press’s correspondent at Stockholm says that the Danish navy is estimated to comprise two cruisers, 13 torpedo-boats, 12 submarines, 21 minesweepers, six minelayers, and the Royal yacht. It is unofficially estimated that there are about 20 Danish vessels in Copenhagen harbour. Danes Reject Ultimatum

According to Swedish newspapers martial law was proclaimed after the Danes had rejected an ultimatum presented by the German Minister to Denmark (Herr Werner Best), following his two days’ conference with Himmler. Professor Gudmund Hatt, a Dane, broadcasting over the Danish radio, reviewed Germany’s difficulties in the occupied countries and emphasised that British propaganda was resulting in an upsurge of national feeling and sabotage. The Germans, he added, were thus forced to take counter-measures. The Berlin radio stated that strikes and sabotage in Denmark were promoted by Christmas Mueller and his associates. Mueller was a former

Danish Minister for Commerce, but hp escaped to England early last year. A message from him was to-day broadcast to the Danish people by the 8.8. C. European service. Mueller’s message said: “Three years of German occupation, three years of exploitation, and three years of injustice have finally resulted in revolts against the Gormans. We are proud of our countrymen. The Germans have again been defeated, but they are carrying on in their usual brutal way. They cannot bend the neck of the Danish people, just as they could not bend the neck of the Swedish people." Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says that King Christian is believed to be confined in a castle about 10 miles from Copenhagen. Danes Openly at War The Danes since midnight on Satur day have been openly at war against Germany, state correspondents in Stockholm. Sixteen hours of German martial law failed to bring the angry Danes to heel and the sabotage has reached new proportions as the desperate populace seeks to do as much damage as possible before the German complete their grip of the country. The Daily Telegraph’s Stockholm correspondent reports that King Christian is a prisoner of the German army in his summer palace at Sorgenfn. News of his abdication is expected hourly. The Danish Government has ceased functioning and the entire country is under a German military dictatorship.

The Stockholm correspondent of the Times says that it is credibly stated in Danish circles that the King’s bodyguard fought a night battle against the Germans until all the Danes were killed or overpowered. The Danes are reported to be still fighting this afternoon, but the reports lack details. The Times says that the fighting in Denmark is a desperate outburst and, even if organised, cannot last long, but is not a hopeless fight, for the Danes have always been convinced of Germany’s ultimate defeat and have been chafing under the stigma of the great betrayal in 1940, in which they were tricked into apparent acquiescence with the German occupation. There is speculation whether members of the Danish Government have escaped to establish a government in exile.

There was an expression of Swedish feeling for the Danes to-day at the Stockholm Stadium at an athletic meeting between Sweden and Denmark, which took place as arranged. A huge crowd listened in silence when the presi-

dent of the Swedish Sports Union spoke and assured the Danes of Swedish sympathy. He said that he was conviocea that Denmark would soon be free. When the Danish flag was run up, the crowd broke into cheers and sang the Danish National Anthem. •The Swedish radio to-night broadcast a report from the coast that seven German warships are anchored off tho Danish coast, just across from South west Sweden, states the Official Wire less.