ATTACK ON NARVIK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 April 1940, Page 5

ATTACK ON NARVIK

BRITISH DESTROYER SUNK ANOTHER RUNS ASHORE GERMAN CRUISER REPORTED LOST. ANOTHER SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY AIR FORCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. April 9. The Admiralty has issued a communique stating that British destroyers attacked enemy forces at Narvik at dawn today and met strong opposition. H.M.S. Hunter was sunk and H.M.S. Hardy ran ashore. These two ships are destroyers of about 1400 tons. The communique says the rest of the attacking force withdrew. The enemy losses at Narvik are not yet known for certain, but an unconfirmed report from Stockholm says a German cruiser was sunk. Oft’ south Norway last night a submarine torpedoed a German cruiser and it is thought it was sunk. It is officially announced that Royal Air Force planes carried out a series of attacks last evening against enemy cruisers in Bergen Fiord. The attacks were pressed home despite heavy antiaircraft fire, and one cruiser was hit and seriously damaged. All the planes returned. It is reported that later enemy cruisers in Bergen were again attacked and hit three times.

GERMAN STEAMER SUNK RUMOURED LOSS OF BREMEN. LONDON, April 9. The Swedish radio stated that a British submarine torpedoed the German steamer Arnasis (7129 tons) of! the' south coast of Norway. This is the only definite news of sea warfare, pending the disclosure of the outcome of the reported British and German naval battle, which the “Daily Mail,” without confirmation, describes as being fought over a 400-mile front from the Skagerrak to Narvik. The “Daily Mail" quotes a persistent Swedish and Dutch radio rumour that the Bremen was sunk while acting as a troopship. PRESSURE ON SWEDEN MOBILISATION REPORTED & DENIED. LONDON. April 9. The German version of Sweden's reply to Germany shows that Sweden is being coerced into inactivity. The German News Agency says that the Swedish Government has agreed not to take any steps against German measures in Denmark and Norway, and not to take any precautions which might lead to conflict between Germany and Sweden. This ignores the Swedish statement about defending herself. During the day the Swedish wireless made repeated announcements about the cancellations of military leave and the calling up of reservists. But tonight's broadcast denied that general mobilisation has been ordered. It was admitted during the weekend that certain steps in regard to the country's defence had been taken. It was denied that German warships had laid mines outside Swedish ports in the Skagerrak.