GERMAN VENTURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1940, Page 6

GERMAN VENTURE

MERCHANTMEN SENT NORTH FILLED WITH SOLDIERS AND STORES. AIR ATTACK AT TRONDHEIM, (Received This Day. 1.5 p.m.) LONDON. April 11. In his speech in the House of Commons. Mr Churchill said the Germans doubtless suspected that minefields would be laid and therefore decided to use the corridor to send merchantmen northward filled with military stores and German soldiers concealed under their decks, with orders to seize various ports of military value. Germany also set in motion other invading forces. "We sympathise with and understand the terrible dilemma of the Norwegians. who for months have writhed .in helpless anger while scores of their ships were sunk’ and hundreds of their sailors drowned,” he continued. "I feel that the Scandinavian adventure is only a prelude to far larger events impending on land. We have probably arrived at the first main crunch in this war. We are ready Io encounter the enemy’s utmost malice to achieve victory for a world cause.” Mr Churchill said that at dawn today torpedo-carrying aircraft attacked enemy shipping at Trondheim. Fifteen of the sixteen planes returned. The Germans had already ordered all merchantmen from the Skagerrak and Kattegat area. "Our advice.” he said, "coincides with theirs in this respect." Mr Churchill denied the British recapture of ports on the Norwegian coasts.

CAPTURE OF NARVIK AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT’S STORY. "INCREDIBLY QUICK ACTION.” (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) NEW YORK. April 11. The "New York Times” Narvik correspondent says the German strategy appears to be to control railways and roads in the interior of Norway, using small forces co-operating with destroyers, paralysing the Norwegians and reducing them to guerilla warfare. The capture of Narvik was an incredibly quick action, lasting for half an hour. In another half-hour the Germans established headquarters in the town and began climbing the hills to establish fortifications. The correspondent adds: "When we arrived on the scene, we saw the Germans facing hastily assembled Norwegian guards in the market place. The Germans had machine-guns. We stood on one side by the concrete wall. An officer waved away a curious oncoming crowd and demanded that the Norwegians should' surrender. They were not ready for action, being armed only, with rifles and retreated before the Germans, who occupied the Post Office and railway. Civilians were stupefied as the Germans advanced up the main streel.”

ACCORDING TO PLAN MORE GERMAN CLAIMS. OPERATIONS IN NORWAY & ELSEWHERE. (Received This Day. 10.25 a.m.) BERLIN, April 11. The High Command stated that the German troops in Norway had consolidated and extended their positions and had occupied Elverum. The statement adds: "Calm reigns in Oslo and all fortifications in Oslo Fiord are in our hands. The Norwegian Army authorities have declared their readiness to co-operate in anti-air raid defence. A British naval attempt to force Narvik Harbour was repulsed. Three British destroyers were destroyed and one badly damaged. The reinforcement of the German troops will proceed according to plan. Bergen and Trondheim, contrary to British reports, are still ours. No attempts at landing have been made anywhere. Our Air Force in the North Sea hit a British destroyer with heavy bombs. Our bombers out-actioned a searchlight battery .at Scapa Flow. A Htirrican was shot down. Two German planes are missing. Our chasers protected the coasts of Denmark and Norway against enemy aircraft and also protected Stavanger Aerodrome. which was occupied by German airmen. British attack's on Stavanger failed.”

M. REVNAUD’S COMMENT IMMENSE STRATEGICAL ERROR. MADE BY THE GERMANS. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) * PARIS, April 11. Addressing the Chamber of Deputies. M. Rcynaud said: •‘Twenty-two warships are at the bottom of the ocean, namely eighteen Germans and four British. No French vessels were lost. The enemy’s initial tactical success proved an immense strategical error. The Germans’ loss included four cruisers, also a submarine and ten merchantmen transporting troops. The British loss totalled four destroyers, including two at Narvik.”