PASSAGE OPENED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 April 1940, Page 5

PASSAGE OPENED

BRITISH NAVAL FORCES ROUND THE SKAW FIGHTING THROUGHOUT DAY IN KATTEGAT. THE AIR ATTACK ON BERGEN. British naval forces have forced a passage through the Skagerrak, and turned the corner of the Skaw to just south of Goteburg, Daventry reports. Seven German warships are reported to have been lost, three unidentified, two cruisers and two destroyers, while two cruisers, and three destroyers have been damaged. Seven supply ships and a number of transports have been sunk.

The naval battle has been raging throughout the day, and in the Kattegat operations are taking place 80 miles apart. One German destroyer was sunk near the island of Anholt. A large fleet of German transports has been dispersed. The battle is still in progress. Watchers on the shore saw two large warships sinking during the engagement, but they were unable to identify them. Planes are taking part in the battle and fishermen are carrying out rescue work. In the R.A.F. air attack on German cruisers at Bergen, one heavy bomb was seen to strike a ship of the Koln class.

Only one small part of the story of the engagements on the Norwegian west coast has yet been told, and such news as has come does not give anything like a complete picture. Mr Chamberlain is expected to make a statement when Parliament meets this afternoon, and Mr Churchill may make a statement about the operations in the North Sea. It is indicated in responsible circles in London that new developments may become apparent very soon as a result of the meeting of the Allied War Council yesterday.

NORTHERN EUROPE

NOW OUT OF BOUNDS FOR U.S. SHIPPING COMBAT AREA EXTENDED BY PRESIDENT. RUSSIAN ARCTIC PORTS AFFECTED. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 10. President Roosevelt has extended the combat zone, from which American vessels are barred, to the waters all round Scandinavia, as far as 44 degrees east longitude and seventy degrees north latitude. The Russian ports of Archangel and Murmansk are affected as the zone includes the White Sea. Contrary to expectations, the enforcement of cash and carry provisions is delayed, pending clarification of the status of nations. All northern Europe is now closed to American shipping. The only , routes open are to Portugal, Spain and Mediterranean neutrals.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

SECRET SESSION CANCELLED. FIRST LORD TO MAKE STATEMENT (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON. April 10. The secret session of Parliament has been cancelled. The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr Winston Churchill) will make a statement in the House of Commons tomorrow.

FRENCH SENATE DRAMATIC POSTPONEMENT OF SECRET SESSION. AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT OF GREAT BATTLE. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) PARIS, April 10. The secret session of the Senate was dramatically postponed after M. Reynaud had declared that a great battle was proceeding in the North Sea, he said, “I am sure that the Allied navies are living up to their glorious tradition.”