AT ENEMY NAVAL FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 April 1940, Page 6

AT ENEMY NAVAL FORCES

British Ships JVlc&ving Up Oslo Fiord MANY ENGAGEMENTS ALONG COAST • OF NORWAY GERMANS SUFFER HEAVILY IN LAND BATTLE Neutral reports make it clear that the British Navy has struck a heavy blow at the Germans. Since Mr Chamberlain gave an account of the battle in Narvik Fiord, no statement has been issued in Britain. One portion of the British naval forces has sailed up Oslo Fiord. Other engagements are reported along the west coast of Norway. Six German warships and two transports were sunk in the Skagerrak area. One warship has been variously described as a destroyer and as the Deutchland. The German naval losses total nine warships—six cruisers; two destroyers and one unidentified ship. The Germans lost at least three and probably eight planes yesterday. Two bombers were brought down off the northeast coast last evening and two more may have shared their fate. A fifth German plane was engaged over the English Channel. The British plane exhausted its ammunition at close range and when last seen the German plane was diving towards the sea with black smoke pouring from the port engine. In Norway two R.A.F. fighters attacked a German bomber over an aerodrome and destroyed it and damaged another. They also set fire to a refuelling tank, which caused damage to another German plane. On their way home they attacked a fourth bomber, which was unlikely to reach its base. Planes of the Fleet Air Arm have taken up the attack on Bergen and scored, three hits on a German cruiser. Several of our machines were engaged by enemy planes. Round Narvik Norwegian officers are confident of their ability to hold the passes. .North of Oslo the Norwegians are reported to be holding the Germans in a major battle. The Germans have suffered severely in their attempt to advance inland'. Several Gciman transports have taken refuge in Swedish waters, where they have been met by Swedish coastal patrols.