TIGHTER HOLD ON NARVIK

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9520, 8 May 1940, Page 2

TIGHTER HOLD ON NARVIK

Nazi forces in Norway

POSITIONS FARTHER NORTH FACED BY SUPERIOR FORCES LONDON, May 7. Large numbers of German ailtransports are going to the north of Norway, which explains a report from the frontier that the British are faced by largely superior forces and have been compelled to withdraw to other positions north of Narvik, says the Stockholm correspondent of th® "Daily Mail.” A German pilot who made a forced landing in Sweden said he was returning from flying SO troops to the Narvik garrison. The Germans are reported to have created an airfield in the Narvik district, says the Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” In any case the icefields can be used for several weeks longer. The Germans originally landed 4000 men and since then they have augmented the garrison at Narvik considerably. The “News Chronicle” says the Germans are sending in very considerable reinforcements to Narvik by means of parachutes. The Germans are carrying out ruthless air raids. They are reported to be strengthening their entrenchments. A Berlin communique says the Allies continue to bring up artillery reinforcements from the north to Narvik. Along hazardous mountain tracks north of Mo (just south of the Arctic Circle) Hitler’s Alpine troops are pushing towards Bodo. Informed circles in Germany hint that the objectives are not only Bodo and the relief of Narvik, but the establishment of air bases from which bombers could operate, and where air transi ports could refuel on the northward j route for attempts to occupy Ham—j merfest and Kirkenes, in the farthest north.

The occupation of Kirkenes would give the Germans a new line of communication with Russia, because the Russians have the right of transit to Norway under the Russo-Finnish treaty.