ALLIED DECISION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 133, 6 May 1940, Page 8

ALLIED DECISION.

CONFLICT OVER NOTIFICATION. LONDON, May 3. The British and French evacuation from Namsos had scarcely been ,completed when the Norwegian regional commander (Colonel Obgetz) issued an order of the day; “as the Biitisli. and French withdraw their troops lrom Namsos we stand alone against the entire German war machine. Already oUttianked ,ahd encircled, we are without aid from outside. With only enough ammunition tor one day, without 'planes and other necessary war materials, any further fighting will only lead to destruction without serving a military purpose. I, therefore, am notifying the German High Command to contact us for the purpose of establishing peace in the Trondelag district as was done in the southern part of the country. It is my heavy duty, as acting-Commander of Trondelag, to give this notice to the soldiers under my command.” Colonel Obgetz appended a note; It was an incomprehensible action by the British and French, without notifying me, to lay open my flanks and rear, cutting me olf from any possible retreat toward Mosjon Norwegian resistance after the evacuation had been bitter and gallant. TERRIBLE BOMBARDMENT. The Allied embarkation was accompanied by a terrible German air bombardment, which killed 6ix civilians, demolished the quay, and razed the town. The British began to embark last night and the French on ' Wednesday. Earlier reports indicated , that- the Norwegians contested the German advance trom Stenkjaer yard by y ar <E and it was hoped a successful rearguard action could he fought northward to Mosjon and Mo. It is understood that Major-Gen-eral Paget, in his plan for the evacuation of Andalsnes, proposed the transfer with the British forces of all Norwegian troops which the Norwegian High Command decided could best l>e employed in other areas, says a British Official Wireless message.. It is not yet known in London how many have, in fact, thus been transferred, NO FOUNDATION. The War Office says there is no foundation for statements that the Norwegian Comniander-in-Chief was not informed of the Allied decision to evacuate the Trondheim area, or that lie was negotiating an armistice. The Norwegian Conimander-in-Chief and his staff embarked on a British warship on the night of May 1-2. He has been conveyed to an undisclosed destination in Norway, and any Norwegian order of the day announcing negotiations for an armistice have obviously been made without his authority. At Stockholm the Norwegian News Agency says all the British and French troops withdrawn from Namsos had been landed safely. PREMIER CRITICISED. The Manchester Guardian says the Norwegian episode is the more hitter because it follows so much shallow Ministerial optimism, and even boasting and complacency. “Mr Chamberlain’s speech immediately before the German, invasion was the same. His complacency about bis pact of friendship, with Mussolini, his innocence about bis dealings with Hitler, his capacity tor self-delusion is a national danger, because it damps the country’s awareness of its peril and almost certainly reflects the complacent handling of the conduct of the war.” The Daily Mail says the scales, are falling from the eyes of the British people, and, we would like to think, also from the eyes of the leaders. The bitter lesson of Norway will be repeated unless we find an answer to the question; Is the war as a whole being conducted efficiently ? The public lias an uneasy suspicion that it is not. Our leaders’ unfortunate speeches in recent weeks indicate that they are fooling themselves and fooling the public. Wo must rid ourselves of the tradition of victory and abolish the thought that we will win trie last battle. This war is to the death. AVe have got to fight. The Times Durban correspondent says the newspapers pungently criticise the British Ministry of Information, pointing out that the Ministry issued reports of Allied successes in the Dombas area throughout the Allies’ withdrawal. The Natal Daily News says the Ministry has made fools of the agencies, deceived the Dominion Press, and confounded the public.