PREPARATION OF BRITISH AID

Southland Times, Issue 24104, 18 April 1940, Page 7

PREPARATION OF BRITISH AID

FIGHTING SERVICES CO-OPERATE

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, April 17.

Behind yesterday’s brief communique of the British landings lies a story of organization and co-operation of the three fighting services.

The nucleus of the expeditionary force was already available, having been prepared for Finland. Transports were ready at east coast ports; thousands of troops were waiting along the coast; units which for weeks had been in camps, barracks and billets moved down to the ports for embarkation at night time; transports loaded with additional heavy equipment, including guns, tanks and ammunition, and, finally, an escort of destroyers and aeroplanes assembled. Only a handful of high staff officers knew the exact destination, although every soldier and oluejacket knew that they were bound for somewhere in Norway. . It is too soon to estimate the influence of the Allied landing forces on German movements, says a military expert, but at whatever points have been chosen they will have the immediate effect of distracting German attention, and for that reason alone will relieve pressure in the Oslo area. It is already known that Norwegian mobilization in north Norway is completed, therefore it will be possible shortly for the Norwegian 6th Division, based at Harstad, north of Narvik, to take over a considerable part of the country’s defences. The Allies will soon have a formidable mobile fighting force whose movements are likely to absorb the entire attention of the invaders. It is reported that the Allied forces landed in Norway include French and Canadian troops. KONGSVINGER FALLS Kongsvinger has fallen after heavy bombing. Swedish sources state that the Norwegians evacuated the town and fortress, but heavy fighting is continuing in nearby woods. The Germans have blown up a radio station at Nottoden whose broadcasts annoyed them. According to unconfirmed reports received from Stockholm, the Germans have severed southern Norway from the north by capturing the heights of Skurdalavolden, Oppoute and Storlien, thus reaching points three miles from the Swedish frontier, directly east from Trondheim. The Germans are reported to have rushed troops by train from Trondheim through an area still under Norwegian control. , Meanwhile, the Norwegians are stubbornly holding the fortifications at Hegre and also maintaining resistance at various points in southern Norway. The Germans vainly launched another attack on Elverum, the defenders of which are strongly placed. Heavy snowfalls are impeding the German motorized units. . Suicide patrols of Norwegian skiers are harassing German detachments. The invaders are believed to have evacuated Haldn because the forces are needed elsewhere. The whole of Lower Ostfold is plastered with proclamations exhorting the inhabitants to obey the Germans or suffer dire penalties. A Berlin message says that the German News Agency reports that the Germans threw back enemy recon-

naissance patrols and shock troops. In an attack on an advance post a Norwegian officer and 11 men were killed and many were taken prisoners. Two Germans were wounded.

German troops retreating from Narvik are reported to have occupied Bjoerfell station on the “iron ore” railway.

The Norwegian High Command broadcasting from Bodo stated that British marines were holding Narvik. The Norwegians were surrounding most of the retreating Germans and had also captured Germans dropped by parachute in several districts Two German aeroplanes had been shot down.

A Berlin message says that officials persist that Germany is holding Narvik and also claim that German troops have reached the Swedish frontier from Narvik after defeating the Norwegians. They admit that the British have possibly landed at Harstad. The Wilhelmstrasse suggests that German naval losses at Narvik have not been revealed for strategic reasons.

The spokesman naively added: “Theoretically we don’t need ships any more, but we will soon show the world we have still got the navy. “Two British aeroplanes were shot down when they attacked Stavanger,” says a German communique. “The day was quiet round Trondheim and Bergen. The pacification of south-east Norway is progressing steadily. Our air force continued its activities over the North Sea and as far as Narvik.”

A British aeroplane trying to penetrate the Heligoland Bight was shot down and another was forced down west of the Skagerrak. One German aeroplane failed to return.