NAZIS LOSE HEAVILY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 114, 12 April 1940, Page 7

NAZIS LOSE HEAVILY

EIGHTEEN WARSHIPS DESTROYED ONLY FOUR BRITISH LOSSES (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright.) Received April 12, 10.20 a.m. PARIS, April 11. Addressing the Chamber of Deputies, the Premier (M. Reynaud) said twenty-two warships were at the bottom of the ocean, namely eighteen German and four British. No French vessels had been lost. The enemy’s initial tactical success had proved an immense strategical error. The German loss comprised four destroyers, representing one-tenth of the total tonnage of the German fleet, also a submarine and ten merchantmen transporting troops. The British loss totalled four destroyers, including the two at Narvik.

AUDACIOUS HEROISM. It is learned in London that the advance of the British Navy to the Kattegat was possible owing to the audacious heroism of submarines which have patrolled the Skagerrak and the Kattegat for many months. They plotted the German minefields and followed German ships through the minefields, recording a course which was signalled to the Fleet. Submarines arc believed to have been responsible for the sinking at Marstraud (north of the Kattegat off the west coast of Sweden) as no British warships were seen. The Royal Air Force on Tuesday bombed a German cruiser off Bergen, and reconnaissance reports yesterday indicated that it had been sunk. It is reported from Stockholm that the British sank twelve of twenty troopships in yesterday’s Skagerrak battle. A Stockholm message says it is reliably reported that the German light cruiser, Emden (5400 tons) was sunk yesterday by the Norwegian minelayer Oiav Trygvason single-handed. The Olnv Trygvason is a mine-layer and training ship of 1600 tons displacement. She is armed with four 4.7-inch guns and one 3-inch anti-aircraft gun and two 18-inch torpedo-tubes, and is fitted to carry 300 mines. THE NAZI VERSION. In Berlin officials deny that the Bremen has been sunk and also claim that negotiations between King Haakon and Dr Brauer (German Minister in Norway) are continuing. They describe the German forces as pouring into Norway. They deny that the big sea battle is progressing, and state that transports will continue crossing the Skagerrak unmolested until the Norwegian situation is entirely under control. The German High Command states that the German troops in Norway have consolidated and extended their positions, and have occupied Elverum. “Calm reigns in Oslo. All fortifications in Oslo Fiord are in our hands. The Norwegian army authorities have declared their readiness to co-operate in anti-air raid defence. “The British naval attempt to force Narvik harbour was repulsed, three British destroyers being destroyed and one badly damaged. Reinforcements of German troops proceed according to plan. “Bergen and Trondheim, contrary to British reports, are still ours. No attempts at a landing were made anywhere. “'The air force over the North Sea hit a British destroyer with heavy bombs. Bombers outmanoeuvred the searchlight battery at Scapa Flow and a .Hurricane was shot down. Two German ’planes are missing. “Our chasers have protected the coasts of Denmark and Norway against enemy aircraft, and have also protected Stavanger aerodrome, which is occupied by German airmen. The British attacks on Stavanger failed.” The Oslo radio ceased abruptly at 7.11 a.m., according to advice received by the National Broadcasting Company in New York.