LATEST WAR NEWS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 155, 3 May 1940, Page 5

LATEST WAR NEWS

I POSITION IN NORWAY TENSION GROWS IN MEDITERRANEAN The latest reports from Norway indicate that the fighting is fierce with the enemy retreating in some places. After bitter fighting at Dombas, the Allied forces withdrew to prepared positions. British; heavy artillery has arrived at; Dombas. Some of the most important news is that the Norwegians have re-occupied Roros. It was stated by German prisoners that the Nazi retreat from this town was due to the shortage of supplies but the opinion is held that a division of forces caused the withdrawal. The enemy is being* pursued and a town eleven miles from Roros has been re-captur-ed. It is stated that there were Swedish volunteers among the Norwegian tioops. The area around Narvik occupied by the Allies has been extended., Swedish reports say that the German commander in Narvik, and most of his staff* have left the town, which is now in the hands of junior officers. The Norwegian 6th Division is included in the forces attacking thfc Narvik area. This Division was mobilised on the northern frontier i-cady to assist Finland and was ready for the Germans. The situation around Namsos is reported to-be unchanged. The R.A.F. conducted the fourth raid in 24 hours on Stavanger aerodrome, This is the eighth within 48 hours. There are indications of in ? creasing tension in the Mediterranean. Insurance rates in London advanced sharply on Wed-t nesday, quadrupled in some cases and in most cases rising; to double. On Wednesday the Italian. Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, | saw the British Charge d'Affaires. The interview was reported to be cordial. Another diplomatic interview occurred when the United States Ambassador, Mr Phillips, saw Signor Mussolini. There are no reports concerning this meeting but it is suggested that the American diplomat was acting on instructions to point out the gravity of the situation.