NORWAY’S STAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1940, Page 5

NORWAY’S STAND

DETERMINATION TO RESIST INVASION PRIME MINISTER ISSUES PROCLAMATION DEFIANT REJECTION OF NAZI DEMANDS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, April 11. The Prime Minister of Norway, Air Johan Xygaardsvold, issued a proclamation reaffirming Norway’s determination to resist the Nazi invasion and rejecting a German demand for the recognition of the Norwegian Nazi Major Quisling’s puppet Government . It added that King Haakon refused to yield to the German demand, acceptance ot wmch would transform Norway into a vassal German State. The proclamation was followed by a statement from the. King: "I fully adhere to my Government’s appeal, and I am convinced that the whole people are with me in the decision taken.” The proclamation reveals that the German Government asked King Haakon to agree to a Norwegian Government enjoying Germany's confidence and nominated by Herr Hitler. The Norwegian Government appeals to the entire Norwegian people to assist its efforts to preserve Norway's liberty and independence. The Government “is convinced that the entire civilised world will condemn the act of violence against a small people only wishing to live in peace.” The appeal continues: "The invaders can certainly carry out great destruction, but the Government is sure that a new future of freedom will emerge for Norway. Consequently, it calls on. the entire people to continue the struggle to the end.

"Long live our Fatherland! Long live free Norway!”

The Finnish radio announced that the Norwegian Prime Minister, after the meeting at Elverum, stated: -Parliament has decided unanimously to continue to resist and to fight lor our integrity.” NAZI TRICKERY EXPOSURE OF BOGUS RADIO APPEAL. CALLING ON NORWEGIANS TO SUBMIT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 10. The device used by the Germans in the course of the invasion of Norway of broadcasting in Norwegian on the Norwegian radio an appeal from the German-controlled puppet Government in Oslo calling on the Norwegian people to abandon resistance and issuing allegations about the resignation and flight of the true Government of Norway recalls a somewhat similar trick employed by the Nazis during the invasion of Poland. On September 8 Germans agents succeeded in sabotaging the Warsaw radio station while the town was still in Polish hands. The Germans then immediately began broadcasting in the Polish language from a radio station in the occupied city of Katowice, using the Warsaw wave length. In this way they succeeded in giving an air of probability to a false announcement that Warsaw had already fallen. In view of the probability of tricks of this kind being repeated, the utmost caution is desirable in estimating the genuineness of dramatic announcements on the radio, which may emanate from German sources.

OSLO RAID ABRUPTLY CUT OFF. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) NEW YORK. April 11. The Oslo radio ceased abruptly at 7.) 1 a.m. according io advice received by the National Broadcasting Company. air fighting ALLIED AND ENEMY LOSSES. LONDON. April 11. The British Air Ministry announces that since Monday morning the R.A.F. lost two flying boats, one reconnaisseur and three bombers No fighters were lost. In the same period it is confirmed that 19 German planes were destroyed.

CONFUSED REPORTS FIGHTING AT MANY POINTS. FEAT OF HEROIC NORWEGIAN DETACHMENT. LONDON. April 11. Some confusion arises from earlier reports that the Allies have recaptured Bergen and Trondheim and landed marines at Narvik, also that the Germans tried to escape from Narvik, and the reported British ultimatum to Oslo. Naval circles in London arc unable to confirm these reports. Similar reports, nowever. continue to arrive from Sweden. The latest states definitely that the British have driven the Germans from Narvik and adds that the Germans tried to escape into Swedish territority by rail, but the Norwegians blew up several se< tions of the railway along which fighting continues. Stockholm also says that the Norwegians have recaptured Hamar, Norway’s new seat of Government, which the Germans had occupied. Norway’s gold reserve and the National Bank's securities were removed from Oslo to a place considered safe. A Stockholm message says the President of the Norwegian Parliament (Dr Hambro) describes how a handful of heroes saved the Norwegian Government. He says an outpost of 15 constituted the only troops covering the transfer of the Government from Hamar to Eleverum. They gate battle against a German advance guard numbering 100 and. succeeding in halting them. Nearly all the Norwegians wore killed. The British United Press correspondent near Narvik says the Norwegians have blocked the iron ore railway tunnel 12 miles inland from Narvik,