GREAT MORAL SETBACK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 118, 17 April 1940, Page 7

GREAT MORAL SETBACK.

FRENCH PREMIER'S VIEtV. HOW NAZIS FARE. Received April 17, 12.40 p.m. PARIS, April 16. The Premier (M. Reynaud), in the Senate, said Germany had lost almost one-third of her navy in the last week’s fighting in Scandinavia, including 20 per cent, of her cruisers and 25 per cent, of her destroyers. In addition, 15 per cent, of her destrovers had suffered damage. Seventy-eight thousand tons of German merchant shipping had been sunk. The Allies had cut Germany’s iron ore route, and after eight days’ fighting the German fleet had suffered massive and irreparable mutilation. Allied troops liad disembarked in Norway, making contact with the Norwegians, and more troops were on the way. Throe hundred Senators cheered lo the echo when M. Reynaud referred to the British Navy’s successes. M. Reynaud said it was a magnificent exploit. The Gormans showed tliev recognised the importance of Narvik bv sending seven of their most modern destroyers there as watchdogs. “Everyone knows what liappened to them!” he said. “Gorman v will l>e obliged to fight on a. new - front as a result of the Allies oceupy'ng Narvik and mining the Bailie. Because the German steel industry functions on Swedish ore. Germany has suffered an immense moral setback.”