INCREDIBLE DIFFICULTIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 135, 8 May 1940, Page 7

INCREDIBLE DIFFICULTIES

BRITISH TROOPS IN NORWAY OFFICER’S GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received May 8, 10.27 a.m. ; RUGBY, May 7. The great courage and tenacity of the British troops in Norway and the paralysing effect of the air superiority which, the Germans possessed are the two most striking features revealed in the stories told by returned British soldiers. The incredible difficulties under which the troops were fighting' and the extent of the enemy’s local superiority in armamentare well illustrated in an account by a captain who said his force went south after landing in the direction of Lillehfimmer. They dug trenches all night and next morning the Germans were about 5000 yards away.

“The battle started at 8 a.m. and they shelled us, bombed us, and ma-chine-gunned us,” the officer said. “The battle raged until G p.m. That night we withdrew 41 miles and took up new positions. Trenches were dug for us by another company. Our overnight withdrawal was carried out along the bed of a frozen river on which the ice was thawing. “Next day we had a terrible pasting from the air for 40 minutes. It was incredible that there were so few casualties to our men. The Germans were firing all over tire place. “During the next day we had a terrific pasting from shells and again from bombs and at night we again withdrew. Eventually we reached Dombas and entrained for Andalsnes. We got about 12 miles by train, travelling very slowly, but the line had been damaged ,by bombers. TRAIN TRAGEDY. “A nearby engine crashed into a huge crater and maiiy were killed and injured in the crash. There was nothing for it but to form up and march, hurrying for five miles to get to the tui nel at Verm a. We had nearly reached it when we sighted the Germans near, but we blocked the road with the help of the Royal Marines and delayed the Germans long enough for us to get to the tunnel. “There ive were forced to stay all day. Bombers attacked the tunnel, but scored no hits. From there wo went by train to Andalsnes. “In four days we fought four battles and travelled nearly 200 miles. Every move we made seemed to be known to the Germans.”