LATEST WAR NEWS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Issue 2, 12 April 1940, Page 5

LATEST WAR NEWS

CAPITAL SHIP'S ENGAGEMENT HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES RESISTANCE TO INVASION" The naval battle in the Skagc.rrak is continuing, with British scouting forces and 1 subma-* rines harassing German trans*-' ports and warships. The encmy'sr losses have been heavy. Capital ships' have entered the arena and the 32,000 ton battle-cruiser Renown fought a* heavy engagement with a 22,000 ton battle-cruiser of the; Scharnhorst class and another--10,000 cruiser. Renown's gunnery was effective, compelling the enemy to break off the en<( gagement after suffering severe , damage. Renown's foremast was shot away and a shell penetrated and passed right through her above the waterline, without bursting. Renown had no casualties. The fight continued until visibility failed at a rang© of seventeen miles. Another battle-cruiser H.M.S. Rodney, 33,000 tons, was attacked by relays of enemy bombers. One heavy bomb fell and exployed on the deck but did not pierce the armour plate. Thei attackers were driven off. Destroyers Suffer. In addition to the loss of two destroyers in the action at Narvikj it is feared that Gloworm has been, sunkr after engaging three enemy destroyers. In the attack on the Rodney, another destroyer, Ghurka, was- heavily liit. Air Force on the Job. The Royal Air Force is in continual engagement with the enemy. In an attack yesterday* they sank two German cruisers. The enemy's losses in the air have been on the same scale as on the sea, nineteen 'planes be* ing shot down in two days. Prime Minister's Statement. In making a statement in the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain said, among other things, that all German ships in the Scandinavian, area would be sunk as opportunity occurred. The Admiralty had given submarines all liberty of action. M T r Chamberlain denied the neu-« tral reports that Bergen and other ports had been recaptured. His view on the latest develop--ments was that Hitler had com- • mitted a great strategic error in invading Norway. "If we act with unceasing and increasing vigour," he said, "we can turn to advantage the great strategical mistake of our enemy." Sinister Lottery. Mr Winston Churchill said the> British Government had known for months that Germany was convert-* ing merchant ships into transports but had not known which country i't was intended to attack. "It, was; /not until Monday morning." he said, '"that I knew Norway and Sweden, Iliad drawn the unlucky numbers inIthis sinister lottery." i Events in Norway. It was stated in reports received' in London that Germany had lost 4 cruisers, 3 submarines, 1 destroyer and 12 transports, in the last two days.- , * The Norwegian Army is now moilising and men are flocking to the colours. German attempts to penetrate by 'bus and lorries have me# with stiff resistance. In no place have the Norwegians had to with-i draw more than ten miles. The heroic resistance of the Nor-* wegians is shown by* the fact that less than two dozen in an outpost held up an advance guard of 100 to cover the Government's retirement. King Haakon has rejected the puppet Government set up by the Nazis Some of the shore batteries on the Oslo fjord are still in action against the enemy. Polish destroyers are fighting with the British naval forces in the Skagerrak and Kategat passages. Neutral Press Comment. According to the German radio! last night, all neutral press comment is in favour of Germany's latest action. The- announcer said that Italian military authorities (rather vague) view the lightning rapidity of German progress in Scandinavia as another example of German's _ prowess. The reaction of the Western Powers, says this 'authority,* was too slow and diffident. Further comment was that "Germany could not put up with the increasing acts of British terrorism," The German announcements concluded: "England's actions gave Germany the right to protect the rights of neutrals." '