The Northern Advocate “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission, through the post as a Newspaper FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1940. Historic Battle

Northern Advocate, 12 April 1940, Page 4

The Northern Advocate “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission, through the post as a Newspaper FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1940. Historic Battle

THE eyes and ears of the world are focussed upon what is happening on the North Sea, in the waters at the entrance to the Baltic Sea, and in Norway itself. It is impossible to do more than visualise a general picture of a naval battle in which, we are told, 250 ships and 1,800 planes are participating. The imagination staggers ah these figures until it is remembered that the field of operations covers a very wide area. Though it will be necessary to await the final report of the Admiralty before a definite summing up of the battle between the Allied and German fleets can be made, there is sufficient evidence to hand to show that a crushing blow has been suffered by Germany. Herr Hitler, it is agreed, made a fatal move when he decided, as he must have done some time ago, to attempt the occupation of Norway. If reports so far received of the succes of the Allied fleet be true, the troops which Germany has sent to Norway are doomed to defeat, for reinforcement of manpower, or replenishment of munitions, will be impossible, save by air, which, under the best circumstances, must be a precarious method. Mr. Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, delivered to the House of Commons yesterday a statement which must have thrilled his hearers in Parliament and throughout the Empire. Observing the caution characteristic of the Admiralty, Mr. Churchill nevertheless related exploits worthy of the finest traditions of the navy, and, while reserving further statements until he was in possession of all the facts, expressed the opinion that Herr Hitler, in taking the war to Norway,- had made the error which Napoleon made when he took the step which led to the Peninsular War, for it was the fighting in Spain which set the stage for the Corsican’s eventual eclipse. At the moment, there appears to be good ground for the conclusion reached by Mr. Churchill, who has few superiors as a student of military history. Mr. Churchill, in the course of his review of the naval operations during the past few days, made an observation which it is to be hoped will be duly noted by neutrals and read in conjunction with the treatment to which Denmark and Norway have been subjected. He said very truly that neutrals could not blame the Allies for non-intervention on their behalf if they held the Allies at arm’s length during the only time effective assistance could be given. This observation was doubtless addressed to nations which, lying within Germany’s shadow, would have their safety immensely secured by immediate alliance with Britain and France. If the German attempt to occupy Norway is defeated, we may expect to see an early increase in the number of Allied countries. But why wait? That is a question neutrals may well ask themselves.