GERMAN STORY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 85, 12 April 1940, Page 3

GERMAN STORY

“INVASION INTENDED BY ALLIES” i NOTES TO DENMARK AND NORWAY I (By Telegraph - Association -Copyright) LONDON, April Ilf i’he German Propaganda Minister. 1 Dr. Goebbels, in a broadcast, announc--1 ed that Germany had sent Notes to 1 Denmark and Norway declaring that the Reich did not intend to touch ‘ their territorial integrity or political independence, and that the Reich hadocumentary evidence that Britain ' and France intended in the next few days to occupy the most important areas of Scandinavia. The Danish and Norwegian Governments and peoples must refrain from , hindering the German advance. and I resistance would be crushed. Germany would not use Denmark or Norway as bases for operations against > Britain unless Britaxp compelled such , action. “Saved From Annihilation.” The German Foreign Minister, Hen von Ribbentrop, addressing foreign press representatives, said:“Germany has assumed responsibility for the preservation of the neutrality of the whole of Scandinavia. No French or British subject will hereafter be seen on Scandinavian soil. Our steps have saved Scandinavia from annihilation, and the Fuhrer has saved northern Europe from the ravages of war. “Britain’s violation of Norwegian neutrality on Monday worthily follows the series of violations which began with the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807 and has been continuing until yesterday’s and Monday’s move, and the British torpedoing of every type of ship w as part one of a plot. Part two was to follow immediately, namely the occupation of all Scandinavia, including Sweden, after which troops were to move against Germany from the north.” Berlin announced that General von Falkenhorst commands the German troops in Norway and General Kan pitsch in Denmark. The Amsterdam correspondent of the Daily Telegraph and Morning Post states that neutral correspondents in Berlin were informed of the invasion at a press conference. The Danish and Norwegian correspondent were absent because they had been interned. Aims As Seen in London. The latest German aggression is directed, in the opinion of observers iii London, to two objectives- the security of sea and air bases in southern Norway from which to menace British shipping and ports, and an attempt to secure supplies from the Swedish iron mines, says a British Official Wireless message. On that assumption observers are by no means persuaded that the action taken will acrue to Germany’s advantage. It is pointed out that German action in Norway must be conducted on a long, narrow front, fully exposed to attack from air and sea, in exceptionally difficult country and with long and easily-intercepted lines of communication. .Again, while Germany may hope that her invasion of Denmark will temporarily relieve the German food shortage by securing a diversion to Germany of butter, bacon, and eggs formerly exported to Britain, Denmark's production of all three commodities depends fundamentally on : mported feeding stuffs In 1938 these included approximately 300,000 tons of oilseed, and G 75.000 tons of oilcake. These will all be intercepted if Germany makes Denmark a vassal State. Britain, on the other hand, can obtain adequate supplies from elsewhere of commodities hitherto imported from Denmark.