STRONG SWEDISH PROTEST TO GERMANY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 95, 24 April 1940, Page 6

STRONG SWEDISH PROTEST TO GERMANY

DELIBERATE FLIGHTS BY NAZI PLANES? TWENTY-FIVE RETORTED ON SUNDAY STOCKHOLM, April 22. Sweden has strongly protested to Go many against aerial M entions of her territory. Twenty-five Nazi planes Hew over Sweden yestciuuy and two were forced down. A Swedish tighter shot down in flames a German plane which fiev» over the frontier north of Gothenburg and its crew of four were interned, rwo German planes made forced landing on Gotland Island and the crews set fire to the rnacliines befcre they were arrested by the Swedish authorities. Three other Germa;» planes crossed the frontier from Norway. The Swedish public is becoming increasingly indignant about the flights of German aircraft. The largest newspaper in western Sweden voices the general feeiing when it says that the eights are deliocrate and are probably made for the taking ot photographs. The paper recalls Herr Adolf nitier s statement that any counit y which does not defend its neutrality is not neutral, and reconuntinds greater activity by the Swedish air force. Another newspaper said as many as 28 German planes Hew Sweden in one day, and it made the significant comment that it could not be merely a case of a stray pilot losing his way. Another paper suggests that ir.e foreign airci alt were being used to take photographs, and yet another asked v.hctx.er lhe Germans were trying to ascertain the nature of Sweden s defences. Meanwhile a watchful eye is being >»cpt in Sweden or. German *ympa-

thisers. The police searched the premises of the National-Socialist Party and documents and papers j seized. Police also investigated the i activities of other societies which, it is pretended, are sports and physical culture organisations, but which are suspected of being sponsored by the Nazis. The Government is asking Parliament to put into force a law providing for compulsory labour service and *! is asking for a larger credit for atma- | meats.