BRITISH FORCE ARRIVES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 117, 16 April 1940, Page 7

BRITISH FORCE ARRIVES

BATTLE FOR NARVIK I , GERMANS FLEE TO MOUNTAINS (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright,) Received April 16, 10 a.m. LONDON, April 15. A communique officially issued by the Admiralty and War Office jointly states that British forces have landed at several points in Norway. A Berlin message states that officials admitted that British troops have landed in some parts of Norway, but claim that troops were not landed in the areas which are in German hands.

BOMBARDMENT OF NARVIK. The Stockholm radio states that British troops landed at Narvik in the face of a coastal bombardment which inflicted heavy losses. The new B.E.F. consolidated their foothold under the heavy fire of the British warships and drove the German garrison into the mountains. The Itoyal Air Force bombed many buildings in Narvik before the forces landed. The Stockholm newspaper Dagens Nyheter publishes dis- . patches from Lulea stating that the British Fleet has forced a passage through Rombaks Fiord from which Narvik is easily controlled. British soldiers and sailors drove the Germans along the railway and some retreated to the hills where the Norwegians opened a murderous fire. It'is not clear whether the foregoing refers to the operations mentioned by the Admiralty in the week-end communique. NAZI THREAT AGAINST BRITAIN. In Berlin it is officially declared that Germany henceforth will make the Norwegian coast a base for aerial and submarine attacks against Britain. The spokesman added that the continual British naval and air force attacks on Narvik, Bergen, Stavanger and other points have released Germany from her guarantee not to use Denmark and Norway as bases for action against Britain. An earlier message stated: —Speculation as to the nature and methods of British military aid continues. A message from Ottawa says it is believed there that the Ist Canadian ■Division, which has been training in England since December, is likely to be the backbone of the expeditionary force to Norway. The men are hand-picked and superbly fit and are accustomed to conditions similar to those in Norway.