BIG ATTACKS BY R.A.F.

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 186, 3 May 1940, Page 9

BIG ATTACKS BY R.A.F.

J Nazi Land Successes Lack Confirmation I (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Received May 2, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, May 2. It is still reported in Stockholm that the Germans have retired fromTonsat (30 miles south of Roros). British heavy artillery has reached the vicinity of Dombas, where the British troops are stoutly attempting to stem the main German advance in the Gudbrands Valley. , Members of a party of 100 Norwegians, who have arrived at the Swedish border under German escort, state that the Germans in Narvik are short of food and expect to be driven out shortly by the Allies. One of the strongest Royal Air Force concentrations yet engaged in operations in a single night inflicted heavy damage on Tuesday night on the German air bases at Aalborg (Denmark), Fornebu (near Oslo), and Stavanger. A further attack was made yesterday morning on the Stavanger base, and an Air Ministry communique states that the R.A.F. yet again bombed the three air bases last night. The Stockholm correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that British warships and planes are reported to have attacked German supply ships steaming northward in convoy in the Kattegat last night. The Stockholm radio says that one ship was set on fire and another is believed to have been sunk by heavy gunfire during an action lasting two hours. REPORTED DANGER. LONDON, May 1. It is authoritatively stated that the situation on the southern front in Norway is dangerous. There is no confirmation in London of reports that the Germans have occupied Dombas and Storen, but military circles state that the report may be true, though probably only small parties from Oslo have linked up with the forces from Trondheim, and therefore it is likely that the Germans will outrun their lines of communication. The Allied advance at Narvik continues and the troops are closer to the port than they were yesterday. The situation at Namsos is good. There was desultory bombing between Namsos and Stenkjaar. A War Office communique issued at 4.10 p.m. says:— "At Narvik the areas occupied by the Allied forces have been extended and the operations are continuing satisfactorily, j “In the Namsos area the situation at the front remains unchanged. “In the Dombas area our troops, after stubborn resistance in the face of strong enemy attacks, withdrew to prepared positions.” The Stockholm correspondent of the British United Press states that the Germans who withdrew from Roros have taken up positions south of the town. Norwegian patrols are reported to De pursuing them. SOMEWHAT BRIGHTER OUTLOOK. LATER. After yesterday’s batch of German claims from Norway, some of which bore a grim appearance of truth, today’s lack of confirmation of successes by the invaders, plus evidence of considerable Allied activity in various Norwegian zones, provides ground for a somewhat brighter assessment of the general position. Too much importance should not be attached to the German withdrawal from Roros, but apparently the Norwegians are operating with greater spirit in this district, as well as between Tromso and Narvik, where the Norwegian Sixth Division is reported to have cleared the Germans from Gratangen. z According to Swedish reports, the Allies repulsed Germans who were advancing from Stenkjaar. Norwegian troops wiped out two patrols in their sector. The Hegre fortress remains a thorn in the German side on the Trondheim front, and therefore it was subjected to venomous attacks today, which the garrison heavily repulsed. Apart from Dombas, through which the Germans claim troops are moving toward Andalsnes, very heavy fighting appears to centre in the Jerkin area. The Norwegians are resisting the Germans at Foldal, on the mountain road between the Oster Valley and Jerkin. It is reported that British and French troops have reinforced the .Norwegians who are opposing the German advance inland from Bergen.