NAZIS DRIVEN FROM HAMAR AND ELVERUM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 95, 24 April 1940, Page 5

NAZIS DRIVEN FROM HAMAR AND ELVERUM

FIERCE FIGHTING CONTINUES

GERMAN HOPES OF REINFORCEMENTS VANISH

TRIBUTE TO ALLIED ORGANISATION

i By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received April 23, 9.30 p.ru. LONDON, April 23. The Norwegian Legation at Stockholm confirms the recapture both of Hamar and Elverum by the British and Norwegians, supported by tanks. Reuters' correspondent on the Swedish-Norwegian frontier says that fierce fighting is occurring between British and German forces at Striklestad. German forces which are trying to advance northwards from Oslo are facing British and French troops, who are lighting alongside the Norwegians. A Norwegian military communique, although it gave no exact details, said British and French troops are fighting in eastern Norway. Whichever part of Norway the Allies have reached, it seems that the Germans' already slender hopes of receiving reinforcements have vanished entirely, except for such assistance as can be sent by air. It is learned that there have been practically no losses of British troops in Norway from air attacks. The Norwegians continue to hold the line near Lake Mjosa. It is reported that two German planes bombed and machinegunned two plates on the railway near Hamar. Other reports deal with a German raid on a town north-east of Hamar, and the destruction of German tanks a few miles further west.

Value of Sea Power. Whatever the outcome of the campaign in Norway may be. it seems certain that this initial stage has been characterised by remarkably good staff work and organisation, says The Times It has also furnished triumphant proof of the value of sea power. The result of the clash in which the Germans may well have hoped to damage our Fleet severely has been, in fact, to cripple their own. so that at the moment our relative preponderance is greater than a fortnight ago, and we find ourselves in a position to make other use of a proportion of our naval forces if tin international situation should appear to demand it. The German High Command reports: “Enemy naval units yesterday again bombarded Narvik, but no troops were landed The German forces in the Trondheim area have reached import ant points. No serious fighting has occurred. Contact has been established with the land forces operating in the Oslo. Christ iansand and Stavanger areas. A British destroyer was hit by a bomb, and two Allied merchantmen and two submarines have been destroyed. Eight Allied planes have been brought down in Norway and on the Western Front. Three German planes are missing. Gjoevik and Lillehammer have been captured.” The official news agency says: “German planes have bombed and set on fire to Namsos and Andalsnes. The British positions at Namsos were bombed for six hours.”