STANDING READY IN NORTH
Norwegian Forces 6 PROFESSOR KOHT INTERVIEWED . (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 6. Tire Norwegian Foreign Minister, Professor Koht, received representatives of the Press in London tonight after he had seen Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Halifax. In the course of his remarks he referred to the well-trained and wellequipped Norwegian forces, still unused, which are standing ready in northern Norway. “In the northern part of my country.” he said, “there is still an army. It’ lias been absolutely unused in this war, and 1 it will be of very good use because it is that part of our army which has been brat trained. The reason for this is easy to understand. M e were afraid of possible Russian aggression. Finland wasi attacked, but not Norway. We were afraid they might come to our country, and therefore we organized the northern army and trained it well.” Though these forces were well equipped, ho said, they would need the support of aircraft and fuller provision of anti-aircraft guns. Questioned on the authenticity of highly-sensational accounts of the German invasion purporting to prove that Norway was delivered into the hands of the invader by the treachery’ of Norwegians. Professor Koht said : “The Germans took Norway by means of surprise. Few Norwegian Nazis. “You may blame us that we did not expect it, but I would prefer to tell you the truth, and that is simply that we did not expect it. I have seen reports about traitors helping the Germans in this aggression. There are sympathizers with Germany. There is a Nazi organization, in Norway which has been very active, but numerically it is not strong. It was not able to put a single man into our Parliament at the last election.” Professor Koht also denied allegations to the effect that Norwegian troops had been sacrificed by being left to cover tlie withdrawal of tlie British and French forces round Trondheim.
He said: “The Norwegian troops laid retreated earlier in order to rest. They were worn out, and I can see no reason why they should have taken part in such an action.” Professor Koht said he had discussed with British Ministers co-opera-tion in the future conduct, of the war. but he emphasized that the liberty of Norway would only be fully assured by the final victory of the Allies. The visit of Professor Koht and the Defence Minister, Mr. Ljungberg. to London, is welcomed by the Press, which attaches great value to the help which their knowledge may afford the Allied Governments, especially in view of the difficulties of communicating between the Allied and Norwegian Governments on their forces in Norway. Among the first members! of the Norwegian Army to arrive in England are Second-Lieutenant Colban (sou of the Norwegian Minister to London), who reached Euchon from Scotland, and Second-Lieutenant Hambro (son of the Speaker of the Norwegian Parliament). They are to return to the Norwegian Army after spending leave in London. General Kuge’s Journey.
The Norwegian commander, General Ruge, who embarked aboard a British warship during the last stages of the Allied' ’withdrawal from round Trondheim. is now again on Norwegian soil. The British warship wasi provided for him and his staff at his- own special request after he had decided to transfer his headquarters to another region. The facts provide sufficient commentary upon the fanciful stories which have been put about in German broadcasts! that he was taken on board a British ninn-o’-war against his own wishes and held prisoner in the shin while the British sent out an appeal to Norwegians in his name calling upon them to continue -their resistance.
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Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 190, 8 May 1940, Page 9
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606STANDING READY IN NORTH Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 190, 8 May 1940, Page 9
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