CONFIDENCE INCREASED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 116, 15 April 1940, Page 7

CONFIDENCE INCREASED

IMPORTANCE OF NARVIK EXPLOIT HEAVY BLOW TO GERMANY (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received April 15, 11.10 a.in. RUGBY, April 14. The only major development in the situation in Scandinavia that has been reported refers to the new, immense Baltic minefield and the announcement that this hemming-in of Germany’s northern coast lias strengthened the feeling* of calm confidence with which the Scandinavian position is regarded in London. Universal satisfaction is felt at ihe news of the British naval exploit at Narvik yesterday, and the public are particularly impressed by the fact that the Admiralty, in place of its well-known reticence in normal messages, describes the attack as “extremely successful” and has signalled congratulations to all concerned on “this vigorous, daring*,^and skilfully-con-ducted action, which may well tend to clarify the situation on this part of the Norwegian coast.”

NAZI MANA FALLS. The Press comment generally suggests that the last remark seems to he an understatement of what expert commentators regard as a heavy blow to the German campaign in Norway. Further information regarding the Narvik exploit, in connection with which the Admiralty communique stated that operations were proceeding, is awaited, and meanwhile the fact that the Germans are still in possession of Bergen and Trondheim arouses no special anxiety. In authoritative quarters it is recognised that the importance of evicting the Germans from those forts, in which they are isolated, is of secondary importance compared to the task of destroying the German fleet, with which such satisfactory progress has been reported. The complete severance of the sea communications of these Nazi forces with Germany now seems to be assured. In nival quarters here respect for the German naval strategists has been greatlv lowered by last week's striking demonstrations of their failure to understand/ the_ basic princ*pies on which success in sea warfare is based.