POSITION IMPROVED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 April 1940, Page 5

POSITION IMPROVED

REINFORCEMENTS REACHING NAMSOS INTERVIEW WITH BRITISH GENERAL. BIG THINGS LIKELY TO HAPPEN SOON. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, April 28. The British commander at Namsos, General Dewiart, in an interview with a British war correspondent said: “Our position is much better. The men are settling down and reinforcements are arriving in good numbers. The German air attacks have been greatly diminished since the Allied anti-aircraft guns and fighters have gone into action. Fighters have already brought down two German bombers at Namsos.” General Dewiart added: “We must not be impatient if there is little action in the early stages. Big things are likely to happen soon.” He admitted that food supplies were a difficult problem because of the destruction of some of the stores at Namsos, but he emphasised that the situation would be quickly remedied. The French General Stall' were equally confident, and said that more and more troops were arriving at frequent intervals. The troops are cheerfid. though often labouring waist-deep in snow—conditions to which'the French Alpine troops are accustomed. Namsos is completely destroyed, having hardly a house or a street left, but the harbour is functioning. British sailors are directing the salvage of stores from the lumber strewn in the waters of the fiord. A British officer said that the German attacks were diabolical in their fury. Bombs fell at the rate of 70 an hour, but the casualties were slight, as the civilians had been evacuated and only a few troops remained. The correspondent adds that many thousands of men have been disembarked and moved unopposed to points around the head of Trondheim Fiord. On his way to Namsos he saw Allied troops moving up the railway and taking cover when enemy bombers were heard.

PURE INVENTION GERMAN STORY OF CAPTURE OF COMMANDERS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. April 28. According to the Rome radio, a message from Berlin states that the supreme commander of the Norwegian forces and the commander of the Allied forces were both captured yesterday and members of their two staffs were being taken to Berlin by air. This statement is quite untrue. Both commanders have been in ordinary •routine communication with London this afternoon. WAR OFFICE REPORT NO CHANGE IN GUDBRANDSDAL VALLEY. HEAVY ENEMY AIR ATTACKS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON. April 29. A War Office communique slates: “The position in the Gudbrandsdai Valley is unchanged. Heavy enemy aii- attacks were carried out against the towns of Andalsnes and Molde. “There has been patrol activity in the Namsos area. “There is nothing further to report from Narvik.” BIG BATTLE EXPECTED ACCORDING TO SWEDISH REPORTS. GERMANS LANDING MORE TROOPS. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) GOTHENBURG. April 29. The Germans are reported to be landing more troops at Oslo. A big battle in the Gudbrandsdai Valley is expected. It is reported that the Allied withdraw] from Lillihammer has ceased, and that the Germans have been thrown back south of Dombas. German planes are continuing merciless attacks on Dombas and Andalsnes. The Allies held up the German. l : at Jerkin, and fighting is also in progress at Kvikne.