STATE OF ALARM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1940, Page 5

STATE OF ALARM

NIGHT MOBILISATION IN STOCKHOLM BLACKOUTS IN SEVERAL TOWNS, TERRITORIAL WATERS MINED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. April 12. A Stockholm message says that a state of alarm existed all night. There was a blackout at the Swedish town of Halmstad. All the military forces, the police, firemen and air-raid precaution units were mobilised and ordered to stand by till dawn. The reason is not known. Similar tension existed at Malmo and Trelleborg. It is oflicially announced that Sweden has mined her territorial waters along the entire west coast. Coastal lights are extinguished. There are blackouts in some towns on the west and south coasts.

ACTION BY CENSOR AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT WARNED. TALK OF GERMAN DEMANDS. NEW YORK. April 11. The “Now York Times” correspondent. telephoning from Stockholm, was interrupted and warned by the censor when relating reports that Germany was demanding passage of troops through Sweden. The correspondent was again warned when he referred to reports in the Swedish Press that Norwegians were blasting bridges and roads connecting Norway with southern Sweden, also when lie said it was evident that Sweden was speeding mobilisation.

NAZI AIMS DISCUSSED BY MR AMERY. BASES FOR AIR AND U-BOAT ATTACKS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 11. Discussing recent events in Norwayand Denmark, Mr L. S. Amery, in a broadcast, said the unprovoked and treacherous attack on two small neutral Powers by the Nazis was dictated by more than the desire to continue using the Norwegian coast for transporting iron ore. “It was. I imagine,” he said, “first and foremost in order to control the whole eastern coast of the North Sea for the purpose of air and submarine attack upon this country and shipping.” He pointed out that possession of aerodromes at Bergen and Stavanger ‘ would bring German bombers some 200 miles nearer Scapa Flow and northern Scotland. At the same time, the use of northern Norwegian ports would give German commerce raiders an open window on to the North Atlantic. He suggested that the attack upon Scandinavia might be only part of an even more ambitious and desperate scheme, and might be followed up any moment by an attempt to smash through Holland and Belgium to secure control of their coasts as well.

NORWAY AT WAR OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO FRANCE. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) FARIS, April 12. Norway has officially informed France that she will fight side by side with the Allies against the German invasion.