ALL DENMARK IN ENEMY HANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1940, Page 5

ALL DENMARK IN ENEMY HANDS

OSLO GIVEN UP TO ENEMY Norwegians on Defensive Line Fyrther North GERMAN SEIZURE OF BERGEN CONFIRMED MEETING OF ALLIED SUPREME COUNCIL By last evening, Daventry reports, the occupation of Denmark had been almost completed without resistance. In Norway, in spite of resistance, Oslo was occupied in the afternoon. The capital is believed to have surrendered at 4 o’clock. The Norwegian army is reported to be holding a defensive line between Oslo and Hamar, 60 miles to the north, where the capital is now established. When the Germans attacked at Oslo Fjord, the Norwegian defence and coastal batteries engaged German warships, one of which ran aground after passing the batteries. The reported occupation of Bergen was confirmed by Mr Chamberlain, who said it was also believed that a landing had been made at Trondheim and at other places. It is pointed out that some of these landings may have been carried out by German marines disguised as seamen on German merchantmen. General mobilisations have been ordered in Norway and Sweden.

A meeting of the Supreme War Council has been held in London to consider the situation as the result of the German invasion of Norway and Denmark. The Allied representatives were in full agreement upon the military and diplomatic measures which must be taken to meet this latest act of German aggression. Air Chamberlain said Britain and France would give Norway all the help in their power and would lake all necessary military and naval measures. Air Chamberlain said powerful units of the British and French fleets were now at sea, but there were no further details at that stage. Since that announcement has come news that a naval battle is going on near the coast of Norway. The official silence regarding this battle may be broken within the next few hours. A Berlin broadcast states that the Germans had found it necessary to bomb severely several cities and towns in the northern regions of Norway. The Germans have set up a puppet government al Oslo. In Denmark the Germans have started to “milk” the country. Rationing of petrol food and other necessities among the Danes themselves has begun. The Dutch Cabinet has met and all army leave lias been stopped. The Germans are suggesting, that the Allies are planning to attack Holland. This is the very excuse, it is pointed out, that the Germans used for invading Norway and Denmark. Air Chamberlain declared that at no time had the Allies contemplated an occupation of Scandinavian territory so long as it was not occupied by Germany. Any statement to the contrary was a pure invention. The Germans assert that the.occupation of Denmark and Norway is a reprisal for the Allies laying minefields in Norwegian territorial waters. Air Chamberiain has pointed out that such an elaborate opera!ion required long planning in advance. Information received clearly indicated that it had not only been planned, but was already in operation before the Allied mines were laid. The British Government, said Air Chamberlain, had given an assurance to Norway that it would extend the fnllesMielp and fight the war in full association with her. “I have no doubt,” said Air Chamberlain, “that this further rash and cruel aggression will rebound to Germany’s disadvantage and contribute to her ultimate defeat.”