ATTACK BY BRITISH PREDICTED

Southland Times, Issue 24106, 20 April 1940, Page 5

ATTACK BY BRITISH PREDICTED

Preparation Of Base Not

Far From Trondheim

REPORT OF ENGAGEMENT AT NAMSOS

(United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 19, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, April 19. The British United Press correspondent at Lulea says that British troops have landed midway between Bodo and Trondheim and are reported to be preparing a base for a major attack on Trondheim, which the German commander, Colonel Weiss, is evidently expecting. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says that empty trains have been waiting at Trondheim station since April 14 for the transport of German troops northward, but these apparently have not yet arrived. • The correspondent adds that weak German forces sent by air to Namsos are reported to have been destroyed or dispersed, probably by Allied forces. Correspondents at Stockholm are predicting a battle north of Oslo near Elverum. The Germans have been quiet for some time and are believed to have been strengthening their positions around Oslo Fiord. They are reported to be bringing up their own guns and improving the coastal batteries. Correspondents report that everything is quiet in Oslo, although sabotage is prevalent in the district. The Germans in Oslo are not meeting with any resistance, but armed detachments of Norwegian troops are said to be hiding in the woods. Germany’s claim that the superiority of its Air Force is a decisive factor in the occupation of Norway is counteracted in an air communique that has been issued, and which reviews the successes of British aeroplanes during the last two days. Despite the fact that they are operating from a distant base the aeroplanes of the Royal Air Force are harassing the enemy considerably. Achievements of the last two days include:— Sinking of a German transport ship and direct hits on two submarines; a German Heinkel and Dornier shot down and two other aeroplanes damaged during attacks on British warships; two bombing raids on the Stavanger aerodrome with further damage to the runways.

NAZIS SUCCEED BY TREACHERY

(British Official -Wireless) RUGBY, April 18. Speaking of the situation in Scandinavia the Financial Secretary to the War Office (Sir Edward Grigg) referred to the treachery which enabled the Germans to enter Oslo. Faked orders, he said, were sent to the commanders of troops and batteries. The only resistance made to the German ships was by accident, but so effective was it that it was easy to realize how much the Norwegian people had lost by treachery. Despite this and despite the consequent loss of strong points, supplies and equipment, the Norwegian military command was making a gallant resistance to German pressure. 1316 Allies had already landed forces at several points and these would be increased with all possible rapidity. “You must not, however, expect decisive results at the pace at which things move in a cinema war,” said Sir Edward. “Results are not secured without careful planning and organization. Norway, fortunately for the defenders, is extremely broken and hard to traverse and the northern part is still deep in snow. Action, therefore, is bound at first to take the form of guerrilla warfare and news will, perforce, come slowly. But we have no reason to be dissatisfied with the way in which events have turned since April 9 and we have every confidence that we shall prove before long to be the decisive gainers by Germany’s perfidious Norwegian adventure.” Dealing with German merchant shipping losses, Sir Edward said it was almost certain that 12,540 tons of German merchant shipping had been sunk in the last 10 days, excluding a dozen ships reported to have been sunk or damaged by submarines. “It seems,” he added, “that 100,000 tons at least of German merchant shipping has been destroyed since the Germans began the Norwegian adventure.” The resistance of the Norwegian population, according to information reaching authoritative circles in London, has surprised the Germans, who tried every means to establish a provisional Government which would ac-

cept the German terms and they would sacrifice the Quisling Puppet Government for this purpose. It is reliably stated that the Norwegian Minister in Berlin has been twice summoned by Herr Hitler, who described Norway’s attitude as incomprehensible and declared that unless King Haakon was immediately induced to accept the German terms he would let loose a campaign of terror which would be carried through without regard for any humanity.

Direct information from Oslo since received indicates that the German authorities are nervous and threatening to shoot indiscriminately unless terms are reached without delay. The Bishop of Oslo has refused to accept any appointment from the German authorities and a similar refusal is likely from the Chief Justice of Norway, who also has been approached. The President of the Norwegian Parliament (M. Carl Hambro) is reported to have urged that it is out of the question for any Norwegian in Oslo to collaborate in anything purporting to be a Norwegian Government at the dictation of the Germans.

“Not the least of the evils that Germany has brought on herself by her Scandinavian adventure,” says The Manchester Guardian, “is the present it makes to the Allies of a large addition of their mercantile marine.

“Norway’s shipping is her chief industry. For a little people of under 3,000,000 her merchant service of more than 4000 sea-going ships, totalling 4,750,000 gross tons, has no parallel. A large proportion of these vessels is on the high seas or in Allied or neutral ports, and the masters are readily responding to the orders of their Goyernment and the invitation of the Allies to give their services for the restoration of their country. “Denmark’s contribution to the world’s shipping is smaller (about 1,000,000 gross tons), but is by no means negligible and it, too, will prove a source of strength to the Allies. Though technically, ‘prizes,’ Danish ships will be paid for when their owners can be compensated without fear of advantage to Germany.”

TROOP LANDINGS CONTINUE ,

A report from Lulea states that British troops have landed near Bodo and are beginning to seize the town. The Stockholm radio announced that the Norwegian Government had received reports from the north of Trondelag and north Norway declaring that the forces in those districts believe that they will be able to maintain their positions as they are now in contact with the British Expeditionary Force. The front in southern Norway is from the southern extremity of Lake Kjosen westward to Lake Rands Fiord and thence to Gothenburg. The German commander in Nor. way proclaimed that all Norwegian men between 16 and 50 years of age must report to German headquarters before noon on April 24. Otherwise they will be shot. They must assist in building fortifications and the transport of war materials. A war office communique states that the landing of British troops in Norway continues. Contacts have been made with the Norwegian forces and operations are proceeding. The special correspondent of the British United Press on the Swedish-Nor-wegian frontier says that the entire British force assigned to recapture Narvik has landed and made contact with the Norwegians, and has begun to drive back the Germans down the road from Heriang Fiord to Elvegard. Another British force, moving on the south side of Oten Fiord, is reported to have gained a foothold in the village of Ankenes on the west side of Narvik Bay. The main British landing took

six hours and was carried out on April 16 at an unnamed fiord 12 miles from Narvik, from which there is a road direct to Narvik. The spot is well situated for an assault on the Rombaks Heights. The force is fully equipped, including light mountain artillery. The accompanying fleet sailed immediately in order to conceal the point of debarkation.

The correspondent adds that the German report of the British landing at Harstad is authoritatively denied. Some reports credit the British forces with gaining a commanding situation in the Narvik area, but they must not be regarded as conclusive until officially confirmed. The special correspondent of the British United Press says that superior German forces have captured the Rombaks Heights overlooking Rombaks Fiord after a resistance which extended over a week by the heroic Norwegians amid the bloodstained mountain snows. The Stockholm radio this morning announced that the British were advancing across the railway from Narvik to Sweden, along which the Germans were fighting desperately. LANDING AT NAMSOS It is reported from Sweden that British troops have landed at Namsos and that British aeroplanes have bombed Sjordalshals and another town in the Trondheim area. Meanwhile the Norwegians are stubbornly resisting the German advance on Elverum from the south. The invaders encountered a large force of defenders

strongly entrenched in the foothills and the mountain ranges. The Norwegians are holding a fort in the German rear and have inflicted considerable losses on the German forces. The German Official New Agency claims the occupation of the entire territory south-eastward of Oslo extending to the Swedish frontier. The Germans also claim the occupation of the fortresses of Oscarsburg, and Drobak dominating the Oslo Fiord. The German High Command asserts that the transport of supplies to Norwegian harbours has continued despite the bad weather. The German News Agency claims that the British have lost nearly 30 aeroplanes in the last few days, not including the losses caused when an antiaircraft carrier was damaged on April 11. It admits the loss of 10 German aeroplanes during the same period.