SEVERAL SET-BACKS FOR GERMANS .

Southland Times, Issue 24112, 29 April 1940, Page 7

SEVERAL SET-BACKS FOR GERMANS .

Nazis Make Attempts To Relieve Trondheim LEFT WING REPULSED BY BRITISH <i (United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 29, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 28. In Norway the struggle for Trondheim has resulted in several set-backs for the German forces. To the north Allied patrols have been active and have captured some prisoners, while in the south events appear to have moved rapidly. New developments have taken place in the German attempts to relieve Trondheim. The German left wing has suffered a set-back, a British communique issued yesterday stating that enemy forces had been repulsed with heavy losses to the Germans. The German right wing is reported to be pushing ahead, but is meeting with opposition. There is little official news of the position. Heavy fighting in the strategic Dombaas sector is reported in the latest despatches from Norway. The Allies are standing firm in the face of desperate German attempts to break through to Trondheim before the full weight of the growing Allied armies is brought into action. The Swedish Press tonight describes a daring German attempt to encircle the Allied forces near Storen. These reports, which must still be treated with the greatest reserve, say that a German detachment with armoured cars and tanks struck westward from Roros and crossed 4000 ft high snow-covered and mountainous country between the Osterdal and Dovre valleys in an attempt to cut the Dombaas-Storen railways at a point 30 miles south from Trondheim. The position in other sectors is unchanged.

BRITISH UNDER HEAVY FIRE

The War Office reports that the position in the area north of Stenkjaer _ is substantially unchanged. British patrols were active and captured some prisoners. A heavy German attack in the Gudbrandsdal Valley against Allied forces in the Kvan area has been driven off with considerable enemy loss. Enemy pressure is being maintained.

It is learned that the Allied front at Namsos is now stabilized farther south in the Dombaas area. Enemy attacks were driven back with heavy losses. British troops came under heavy machine-gun and trench-mortar fire and withdrew slightly to unexposed positions.

The Norwegian Telegraphic Agency reports that two German bombers were shot down near Aalesund. Some German raiders were shot down at AndaIsnes after setting fire to houses. It is learned that the British forces in Norway are making full use of Indian Army officers who are experienced in mountain warfare. The German High Command says that

the Germans surprised a British landing party at And-'snes and took nearly 200 prisoners, including staff officers. Many important' documents were secured. Another landing party was repulsed. At Stenkjaer two British officers and 80 men were taken prisoners (this apparently is the engagement mentioned by the American correspondent Leland Stowe). A Swedish trawler fishing near the British mine-fields in the Kattegat saw 20 German minesweepers in operation under an escort of 100 aeroplanes. There were no signs of British warships. It is reported from Christansand that hundreds of drifting mines Lave been sighted south off the coast of Norway. It is reported from Stromstad that four German transports, escorted by destroyers and aeroplanes, were sighted off Oslo Fiord today. The German radio claims that bombers destroyed a British cruiser at Narvik, put another out of action at Andalsnes and set two transports on fire in the Molde Fiord.

GERMAN PRISONERS CAPTURED

The latest authentic information about the operations in Norway indicates that there is little change in the position at Narvik, where heavy snows continue.

News from Namsos shows that there have been patrol encounters in which Allied troops have taken German prisoners. In military circles this information is regarded as a refutation of some sensational reports of serious reverses current in the past few days. In the Dombaas area British forces have been attacked near Kvam, which is on the railway south of Otta, but the enemy was pushed back with heavy loss. British troops came in for heavy machine-gun and mortar fire and withdrew slightly—presumably to positions in which they will be less subject to such fire.

In the Bergen area the Norwegians are reported to be holding their ground in the neighbourhood of Voss with the Germans advancing along the railway from Bergen and also possibly from Hardanger Fiord, where enemy troops are reported to have landed. Another report states that Norwegian forces are in the neighbourhood of Ness on the railway about 100 miles east of Bergen with the Germans advancing in that direction from Tiry Fiord, about 50 miles south-west of Ness.

An eye-witness of recent operations in Norway has just arrived in London. Discussing the German methods he says that on arriving in a new area the Germans make a practice of burning certain farms—probably belonging to non-Quisling farmers. Much has been heard of arrivals of German troops in Norway by parachute, but reports from this source suggest that few of them survive. A considerable proportion of those descending become stuck in deep snow and perish. Some on landing have suffered broken limbs. An examination of bodies suggests that in other cases men have left an aeroplane—possibly pushed out of it—without a parachute, while some appear to have been shot before making the descent. Herr Josef Terboven, a former member of the Reichstag, arrived by air and will take over the civil administration of the occupied areas of Norway. Herr Hitler issued in Berlin a decree legalizing Herr Terboven’s appointment. The decree declares that the war-like

actions of the Norwegian Government have created a state of war between Norway and Germany. The Reich’s commissar will exercise supreme civil and governmental power under direct instructions from the Fuhrer. A sinister proviso places German police at Herr Terboven’s disposal. BRITISH FIGHTERS IN NORWAY PLANES LAND ON FROZEN LAKE LONDON, April 26. British fighters in Norway landed on a frozen lake, which has been successfully converted into a temporary air base, despite enemy bombing attacks. A British Official Wireless message says that the first official intimation that anti-aircraft guns were in action in Norway and that fighters were being engaged by the Allied forces was given in an Air Ministry communique which says that a vigorous offensive action by large numbers of Royal Air Force aircraft against enemy bases in Norway and Denmark continued throughout Thursday and last night. Among other objectives, oil tanks at Villo, on the Oslo Fiord, were attacked and large fires were seen. A large transport also was attacked in this fiord. To the north-west of Stavanger attacks were made on four large ships and on the seaplane base at Stavanger, where several fires were caused. One formation of British aircraft encountered and destroyed an enemy flying-boat. Patrolling British aircraft also shot down an enemy bomber over the North Sea and attacked two enemy flying-boats, seriously damaging one of them.

Five British aircraft are missing and six enemy aircraft have been shot dowr. by British anti-aircraft guns and fighters in Norway and eight others have been damaged. Some British fighter aircraft engaged in operations in Norway have been damaged by bombing attacks. The Royal Air Force last night again bombed Stavanger aerodrome 10 large supply ships in Oslo Fiord and also oil depots. Direct hits were observed.