CAPTURE OF NARVIK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 156, 1 June 1940, Page 8

CAPTURE OF NARVIK

STORY OF ALLIED FEAT. NAVAL BOMBARDMENT. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 30. An eye-witness’s account states that the Allies’ final assault which resulted ill the capture of Narvik on Wednesday lasted 24 hours. While British warships shelled the German position French, Polish and Norwegian troops closed in on the town from the north and south-east. The British fleet started the bombardment on Tuesday morning. The French troops in military landing craft crossed the fiord under fire and made a successful landing on a headland near Narvik, attacking through strongly defended, wooded country.; The Polish troops crossed the hills south of the port and opened a vigorous attack, while the Norwegians were working in from the east. Occasional Verey lights told the Navy the positions of the Allied forces and barrages were laid down. The British forces south of Bodo, 120 miles south of Narvik, opposing the northward thrust of the Germans from the Namsos area, have kept up magnificent resistance in the best traditions of the British Army. Scottish, Welsh and Irish regiments have been concerned. The Germans advanced in mass formation and sustained very heavy casualties. In the recent heavy bombing of Bodo, although the town was badly damaged, the civilian casualties were ■much lighter than was at first thought possible. This was principally due to the gallantry of British rescue parties. German warplanes set fire to the hospital and maefiine-gunned the wounded as they were being evacuated, also putting the fire engines out of action.’ The behaviour of the Norwegian nurses earned the highest admiration of the British troops. British ’planes nightly raid Germany and Norwegian aerodromes. No raid alarms are sounded, and the Germans (explain the raids as “an explosion outside the town.” The Norwegian High i Command states the Allies are mopping-up along the railway from Narvik and south of Narvik.