DANES RESIST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 206, 1 September 1943, Page 5

DANES RESIST

SPORADIC FIGHTING WAVE OF SABOTAGE AGAINST GERMANS <By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Recd. 11 p.m. London, Aug. 31. Refugees from Denmark at Stockholm say that sporadic fighting between Danish troops and Germans was still going on last night. It is re-| ported that 450 Danish civilians and soldiers were killed in severe street lighting in the Svenbord area. At the Jaegersborg barracks, outside Copenhagen, the Danish Royal Guards machine-gunned German tanks, destroying three. Casualties on both sides were heavy. At Naestved, 37 miles south of Copenhagen, 600 Danish Guards ceased fighting only when their ammunition was exhausted. They had previously rejected the surrender ultimatum.

Oslo radio says King Christian of Denmark has abdicated.

A Stockholm message says the entire Danish Royal Family is interned at Amalienborg under a German military guard. Members of the Government are either imprisoned or under house arrest. The 72-year-old head of the Jewish community in Copenhagen, C. B. Henriques, and 50 other prominent Jews were arrested. Scores of prominent politicians, professors and journalists were also arrested. AU Danish regular and reserve officers have been arrested and all Danish soldiers on leave have been ordered by the German High Command to report immediately to local German commanders on penalty of being court-martialled

Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent said fighting between Danish and German troops near Copenhagen continued yesterday afternoon. A general strike occurred on Sunday in a number of areas, including Skagen, Aalborg, Viborg. Aarhus and Svendborg. The Danish radio said all travel in Denmark was banned except within the immediate radius of towns.

A great wave of sabotage continues to sweep Denmark, and the Germans are rushing more troops to Denmark to quell disturbances. Berlin radio quotes competent German circles for the statement that the armed forces which have taken over the protection of Denmark will continue with the task for the duration of the war. Danish radio announced that newspapers in Denmark did not appear yesterday for technical reasons.” It added that they might reappear today.

The Danish radio, which is now Ger-man-controlled, yesterday accused the Free Danish movement of being responsible for sabotage in Denmark. Earlier the Germans had stated that a number of Allied saboteurs had been dropped in Denmark by parachute. The German fear ol an Allied invasion of Denmark is believed to be the major factor determining the application of severe measures against the Danes, says Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent. The German statement that new measures are neces-

sary to protect the European coastline is the first German admission of their fear of an invasion of Denmark. Observers expect that Danes will be forbidden to listen to foreign broadcasts and it is possible that radio sets will be confiscated.

Small boats are still escaping from Denmark to Sweden despite the tightening German control over the 20mile strait separating Sweden and Denmark. Increasing numbers of German warships and planes are patrolling the channel, ramming, shelling or bombing boats attempting to escape. However, over 500 Danes, mainly members of the Army and Navy, with some policemen and civilians, have so far reached Sweden. Danes are escaping to Sweden in warships and small sailing ships making a dash through the German blockade under cover of darkness. A small motor-boat with 60 officers and soldiers reached Hoganas on Sunday night. A modern mine-sweeper reached Trolleborg yesterday. A ferryboat from Denmark arrived at Helsingborg, but carried no pas-

The Stockholm newspaper Allehanda says uniformed soldiers’ and sailors from Denmark will probably be interned and civilians left free. Crown Prince Frederick and Princess .Ingrid are reported to have been interned at their residence at Amalienborg. Communications between Sweden and Denmark are still cut and the airlines from Copenhagen to Berlin and Vienna have been suspended. Danish circles in I/ondon learn that a number of political arrests have been made in Denmark, including the Conservative Party chairman, Fibiger, Parliamentary leader of the Conservative Party, The German news agency stated: “Complete calm prevails in Denmark. The police are carrying on their duties and all work has been resumed.” The Danish revolts have shown the Nazis that nowhere can they keep control except by force, consequently they are committed everywhere in the usurped dominions to the unrelieved strain on military resources, which is now their increasingly fatal weakness.