GERMAN LOSSES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 115, 13 April 1940, Page 8

GERMAN LOSSES

WARSHIPS DESTROYED. NORWAY’S GREAT STAND. LONDON, April 11. The latest estimate of the German losses since the invasion of Scandinavia is three warships and one U-boat confirmed as sunk and six others all reported sunk. Jn addition, twelve transports, nine merchantmen, and two ammunition ships are reported sunk. The Norwegians, temporarily nonplussed under the first shock of the invasion, are now flocking to the colours. Increasing resistance is the salient fact emerging from the confused position in Norway. The correspondent of the Stockholm Aftonbladot says the Norwegians are barricading and guarding all bridges on the long front running south, east, and north of Oslo, parallel to the Swedish border. Other sources indicate that the Norwegians elsewhere are holding up or pressing back the invaders, notably at Bergen, which the Norwegian troops have apparently recaptured, although Swedish reports, declare that the Germans are holding the fortresses at, the entrance to the harbour. On the contrary, the German News Agency claims the Germans not only hold Bergen, besides the other ports originally occupied, but have reinforced the troops at Bergen, Oslo and Stavanger. A Swedish journalist, in a message from the occupied territory, reports the Germans are transporting troops by air from advanced Danish bases, while according to a message from Marstrand, more German warships and transports have arrived in Oslo Fiord. AIR REPRISALS. A British reconnaissance ’plane brought down a Dornier flying-boat in the North Sea. Four of the crew rowed away in a dinghy. French fighters brought down a Heinkel and two Dormers over France. All eleven of the crew were killed. Another Heinkel crashed in the woods and blew' up. GERMANS IN PREDICAMENT. The Associated Press Stockholm correspondent states that the Norwegian commander at Bergen has reported a big concentration of invaders at Trondheim, against which the Norwegians, whose commander-in-chief is now General Otto Huge, are preparing a strong attack. The Norwegians arc reported to be advancing from the north, attempting to cut off the Germans operating be tween Trondheim and the Swedish frontier.

Meanwhile the Norwegians at Strodal have held up the Germans advancing from Trondheim. Further difficulties for the invaders are likely to result from the blowing np of the railway between Oslo and Charlotteuberg. The 'British United Press correspondent on the North Swedish frontier states that the Germans at Narvik are likely to bo trapped. The Norwegians believe the British destroyers’ attack caused the blocking up of Ofotcn Fiord, one of the channels leading to Narvik, where three German troopsships, each carrying four thousand men,, are reported to have arrived, on Tuesday night despite the British naval onslaught. The Swedish radio declares that a battle occurred near Narvik, also that the Norwegians repulsed the Germans between Oslo and Elverum. A communique declared that the 1 Government and Parliament still exist since the withdrawal from Oslo. FURIOUS BATTLE. From Stockholm a British and German battle is reported to he raging furiously in Trondheim Fiord. British ’planes attacked German warships and aircraft this evening. The Berlin Official News Agency claims that bombers badly damaged a British' aircraft-carrier in the North Sea.. Two more British destroyers are claimed to have boon sunk, making a total of six. The British air attack on Trondheim is reported to have been repulsed. The Berlin News Agency has reported from Narvik the arrest ol a British journalist, Mr Giles Bonnily, a nephew of Air Winston Churchill. It is not explained whether he was arrested by the Germans or the Norwegians.