GERMANS MEET RESISTANCE

Southland Times, Issue 24114, 1 May 1940, Page 7

GERMANS MEET RESISTANCE

The German News Agency admits stubborn enemy resistance at various places in Norway. It says that the British have evidently received instructions to stiffen the resistance. Many German wounded soldiers are arriving in Oslo, civilians being removed from the hospitals, according to a message from Gottenburg. A British War Office communique states that the position in the Gudbrandsdal valley is unchanged. Heavy enemy air attacks were carried out against the towns of Andalsnes and Molde. There has been patrol activity in the Namsos area. A message from Gothenburg says the Germans are reported to be landing more troops at Oslo. A big battle in Gudbrandsdal valley is expected. WITHDRAWAL CEASES It is reported that the Allied withdrawal from Lillehammer has ceased and that the Germans were thrown back south of Dombaas. German aeroplanes are continuing merciless attacks on Dombaas and Andalsnes. The Allies have held up the Germans at Jerkin, and fighting is also in progress at Kvikne.

Unconfirmed Swedish reports say the Allies have landed large forces at ports on the Nord Fiord, 60 miles south-west from Andalsnes and Sandals Fiord and 30 miles northwest from Andalsnes. Forces from Sundals Fiord have been sent to reinforce and consolidate the defences on the Dombaas-Storen railway, and forces from. Nord Fiord proceeded to Otta in the Gudbrandsdals Valley. Large quantities of anti-aircraft guns ana aeroplanes also were landed.

German and Allied troops continue to pour into Norway. The bitterness of the fighting increases with the strengthening of the Norwegian and

Allied resistance, which the Germans are answering with intensified bombing and machine-gunning, not only of troops but villages, ambulances and hospital ships. . . The battle appears still to be joined at Kvam in the Gudbrandsdals Valley, and north from Roros, where the Germans are repairing blown up bridges and bringing up armouredcars and field guns. A few Germans are apparently in the neighbourhood of Jerkin, where they met a strong Allied force, but the main German detachments, attempting to cross the mountains to the DombaasStoren railway, apparently have been checked. Norwegian sources admit the Germans have advanced 10 miles westward from Noes to Gol, and detachments from Bergen are advancing eastward. The French and Norwegians have organized a continuous line through the forest to the Stenkjaer area, with the British supporting. Patrols are actively engaged with machine-guns and rifles and German bombers are incessantly attacking the whole front. The Norwegians repulsed a heavy German attack at the Tangen station, south from Lakensasen. Air battles are more frequent and the Germans apparently are using air transports, of which scores are daily flying northwards over Roros. Captain William McHale, of the American freighter Mormac Sea, disputes the assertion of the Nazi Foreign Minister (Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop) that troops were not given sailing orders for the invasion of Norway until April 8. “I photographed the German auxiliary Seattle in Trondheim Fiord at 2 p.m. on April 7,” he said. “She headed towards Bergen high out of the water. She would not be returning to Germany empty. Undoubtedly she carried troops. She was idling along, apparently awaiting orders.”