DENMARK DEFIANT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 4, 3 September 1943, Page 4

DENMARK DEFIANT

THE struggle of the gallant Danes against the unjust oppression plundering and terrorism of the German invaders has culminated in the abdication of King Christian and the imposition throughout the little country of three and a half millions, of martial law. These latest measures have been enforced with all the brutality and display of force for which the 'hun' is so well known and by scenes which have attended the fall of all the smaller undefended countries which have been over-run during the past four years of war. Denmark up till the present time has been spared the heavier rigours of the Nazi invasion, mainly on acr count of the complete success which attended theltreachery of the overthrow of the Danish Government and the: subtle lies of the Nazi Commanders who over-ran the fortymile frontier separating her from the Reich with the false assertions of non-aggression still on their lips. Like the Norwegians the Danes were numbed by the rapidity of the movement which because they trusted the 4 hun cost thehi their liberty and independence. The Nazi yoke has grown heavier with the passing years, until it has now grown intolerable and the Viking blood of free men has asserted itself. The Danes battle to-day is more heroic than it could possibly have been two and a half years ago when the army was armed and a certain degree of military resistance and organisation was possible. Robbed of their arms, the Royal Guards overthrown and butchered their only remaining weapon is sabotage the penalty for which is death. Yet so great is the common hatred of the populace for the invader that sabotage throughout Den mark to-day is widespread and many thousands of fit men of military age have made their way to Sweden for the avowed purpose of joining up with the Allied armies waiting only for the great invasion hour to strike. The Danish unrest, the open sympathy of the Swedes for the Allied cause, the rebellious Balkans., the seething state of France and the underground organisations in Norway, Belgium, Holland and Poland—all these point to the time being ripe and ready for the vast counter stroke which must lead to the deliverance of Europe and the emancipation of the free.