MAIN ADVANTAGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 137, 10 May 1940, Page 7

MAIN ADVANTAGES.

REMAIN WITH ALLIES. FIRST LORD SUMS UP. LONDON, May 8. Referring to the development of the situation in Norway when the German thrust north from Oslo was making it worse, the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr Churchill), in his speech in the House of Commons, said that the Norwegians were unable to hold the mountain passes and could not destroy the roads and railways. The possibility ot the arrival of large German forces south of Trondheim iiad to be foreseen. The intense German bombing of Namsos and Andalsnes prevented the landing of large reinforcements and even the artillery supplies for the troops that had already been landed. The decision to withdraw was undoubtedly sound. The withdrawal of 12 000 men —less than a division—was accomplished with the greatest skill and good luck. “The question arises whether if we had persisted with a direct naval attack it would have been better,” Mr Churchill said. “I have always believed that the Navy could carry troops into Trondheim Fiord, land them, and come to grips with the enemy. I would have been glad to take all the responsibility for an attempt provided it was supported by the experts. “Even if the opinion that we could have mastered Trondheim by April 25 were correct, could we have brought a sufficient arniy south from Trondheim to repel the invader l’ The Germans could he reinforced more quickly than us. There were no means whereby the air superiority could be. overcome. We should have been committed to a forlorn operation on an ever-increasing ’ SLANDERS REBUTTED. “We are now fighting hard for Northern Norway, particularly for Narvik, where the conditions are more equal. Wc are in possession of the Narvik aerodrome. “It is an injury to our war-making capacity that we should be forced to detail this story. We do not learn from the German leaders truthful accounts of all their motives and I hope it will he the last time we confer this benefit on them. Wc have decided to speak thus plainly because of the cataract of unworthy suggestions and actual falsehoods pouring out to the public in the last few days. “A picture has been drawn of craven politicians hampering the admirals and generals. There is not a word of truth in a suggestion that I proposed more violent action to the Prime Minister and the War Cabinet and that they restrained me. . . ■ “I sympathise with Admiral Keyes s desire to plan and lead a violent attack on Trondheim and repeat Zeebrugge’s immortal glories, but I am sorry that this impulse has led him to cast aspersions On his old shipmates. I have complete confidence in their sagacity, massive good sense and professional knowledge, arid I believe the T leet has confidence in them. I love to hear the German wireless lies about all the Britisli ships that have been sunk so many times over and to survey the fool’s paradise in which they keep their deluded serfs and robots. BLOCKADE IMPROVED.

“Tiie Germans claim to have sunk or damaged 11 of our battleships. Actually, two were slightly damaged, but neither was withdrawn from the service for one day. They ; claimed, that three aircraft-carriers were seriously damaged. Actually, one was slightly damaged by a near miss, and she ■ is still In service. The Germans claim to have sunk or damaged 28 cruisers. Actually one cruiser and one antiaircraft ship were damaged. IVe have lost 11 trawlers in the Government service. That explains all these battleships.

“It seems to me that, in spite of Hitler’s overrunning Norway, the advantages rest substantially with us. Hitler has lost 10 lives for every one of ours. Hitler has. compelled a large part of Scandinavia to enter the Nazi empire of hungry land. He has committed an act of selfblockade. Our control of seaborne commerce should become even more effective. The Norwegian corridor no longer exists. Denmark, after her food resources are exhausted, will no longer be a channel of trade.

“Tile British and French mercantile, fleets can now rely on the . invaluable co-operation of the Norwegian merchant fleet, the fourth largest in the world. The British and French shipping losses since the outbreak of the war are barely 800 000 tons, and the captures n.nd new shins building have alreadv compensated for threequarters of that. “If Sweden had come to Norway’s rescue, if large numbers of her troops

could have entered Trondheim, if her air bases had been at the disposal of the Royal Air Force, a very different position might soon have- been established: The Swedish action was like that of many other people who have criticised the British Government.”