REBUFF TO GERMANS

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

REBUFF TO GERMANS

ON HITLER’S OWN GROUND. A BLOW INVITED. (British Official Wireless.) Received April 16, 10.30 a.m. RUGBY, April 15. The Manchester Guardian points out that tlie German rebuff at Narvik is on the ground chosen by Hitler himself. “Thus, on the most remote section of. Germany’s Norwegian enterprise, her naval policy has received the blow it invited. It would be strange if competent naval men —and they are competent—of their own free will threw the expedition ashore at Narvik, including invaluable destroyers. This was surely a Hitler stroke of abrupt recklessness.” The Times says: “Neither the practical nor the psychological significance of Narvik will be missed anywhere where people can still get an inkling of the truth.” After referring to the less dramatic, but no less important and daring, operation of laying mines in the Baltic as a further step towards embarrassing the Germans in their communications with Norway, the Times mentions the reports of reinforcements reaching Norway from Germany by air, and it agrees that, though encouraging, the air operations have not been such as t-o affect the balance of air power. The announcement in a laconic conimunique this afternoon that “British forces have now landed at several points in Norway” was prominently displayed in the evening newspapers. The announcement, which had been expected hourly by the public, is enthusiastically welcomed. The Evening News says editorially : “It is what the world has bv n waiting for ever since Germany attacked Norway ” and adds: “Britain and France have fulfilled their pledges _ to give swift assistance to Norway in her resistance. The prompt help will bring encouragement to the Norwegians and have a tremendous effect on their morale.”