INVASION THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1940, Page 5

INVASION THREAT

FEARS OF GERMAN LANDING Entertained in Scandinavian Countries NAZI REPLY TO ALLIED BLOCKADE TROOPS AND TRANSPORTS SAID TO BE READY (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright? LONDON, April 4. The special correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,’’ who has returned from Stockholm, says that Germany has cancelled the immediate rail consignments of iron ore from the northern Swedish mines lo the port of Narvik because of Britain sinking ore ships outside the territorial waters between Norway and Denmark. The correspondent understands that Germany has assembled in the Baltic Sea fiat-bottomed boats in addition to ships which are normally berthed at Bremen and Hamburg. Hour hundred thousand Germans under arms could be embarked in the Baltic. Sweden has been told that. if Britain acts in regard to the Norwegian iron ore traffic this force will land in southern Norway. Sweden realises that a German stroke against, Norway would meet neutral obstacles and could not-be executed without violating Danish neutrality. The territorial waters of Oro Sound and the Kattegat are ice-logged. An invasion would not be a lightning affair, but Sweden, it is believed, has solid ground to fear that a landing will be attempted if Britain goes further. A successful invasion would , give new aerial and U-boat bases and would enable Germany to close the Baltic exits lo exports to the Allies. Sweden is determined to resist an attack. Iler foreign policy ■would stiffen if she were assured that the Allies would open an aerial war in the West in the event of a German attack on Sweden.