REPORTED BRITISH LANDINGS IN NORWAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 86, 13 April 1940, Page 7

REPORTED BRITISH LANDINGS IN NORWAY

SOUTH OF NARVIK AND NEAR BERGEN JOINING UP WITH THE NORWEGIANS GERMANS TRANSPORTING TROOPS BY AIR <By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Received April 12, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, April 12. According to authoritative Norwegian sources, British forces have landed southward of Narvik and are endeavouring to join up with the Norwegians. The same sources state that British and Norwegians are in close contact near Bergen. Estimates of the total number of Germans in Norway now range from 20,000 to 40,000. Two hundred troop transport aeroplanes, capable of taking 20 men each, are reported to be flying regularly from Denmark. •Six German planes heavily bombed and machine-gunned the village of Nybergsund. Several civilians were injured. Members of the Royal Family and the Government had already left. The American Associated Press correspondent at Stockholm states that the Norwegian commander at Bergen has reported a big concent ration of invaders at Trondheim, against which the Norwegians, whose commander-in-chief is now General Otto Huge, is preparing a strong attack. The Norwegians are reported io be advancing from the north, attempting to cut off the Germans operating between Trondheim and the Swedish frontier. .Meanwhile the Norwegians at Stordal held up the Germans advancing from Trondheim. Further difficulties for the invaders are likely to result from the blowing up of the railway between Oslo and Chrlottenberg. The British United Press correspondent on the north Swedish frontier, slates that the Bermans at Narvik are likely to be trapped. The Norwegians believe that the British destroyers’ attack caused a blocking up ol: Oten Fiord, one of the channels leading to Narvik, where three German troopships, each carrying 4000 men, are reported to have arrived on Tuesday night, despite the British naval onslaught. The Swedish radio declares that a battle occurred near Narvik, also that the Norwegians repulsed the Germans between Oslo and Elverum. A communique declared that the Government and Parliament still exist since the withdrawal from Oslo. The British Air .Ministry announced that the Royal Air Force bombers twice attacked the German-occupied aerodrome at Stavanger. Last evening, in the first attack, our machines, despite strong anti-aircraft fire, heavily bombed the aerodrome and in addition to other damage set on fire the petrol dump. In the second attack, our machines, flying low. machine-gunned a large number of enemy aircraft drawn up on the landing ground. .Much damage was seen to have been done. One of our machines tailed to return. naval battle raging in fiord WARSHIPS AND PLANES ENGAGED Received April 12. 10.31) p.m. STOCKHOLM. April IJ. A British-German naval battle is reported to be raging fur, ously in Trondheim Fiord. British planes attacked German warships and aircraft this evening. The official news agency in Berlin claims that bombers badly damaged a British aircraft-carrier in the North Sea. Two more British destroyers are claimed to have been sunk, making the total six. The British air attack at Trondheim is reported to have been repulsed.