ENEMY CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1940, Page 6

ENEMY CLAIMS

OCCUPATION OF RAILWAY TO SWEDEN TOWNS AND FORTRESSES HELD. VIOLENT CLASHES NORTH-EAST OF OSLO. (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, April 14. The Germans claims to have occupied the railway from Narvik to Sweden. Keen fighting continues in South Norway. The Germans apparently landed considerable forces on the south-east tip of Norway and captured the town of Halden, the fortress of Fredrikhald and the town of Sarpsborg, and, according to claims, the railway northward from there, but the invaders apparently have lost the fortress of Rauer, at the mouth of the Oslo Fiord, because the Norwegian flag has replaced the swastika there. Violent clashes continue north-east of Oslo, where the Norwegians retain Eidsvold and have checked the Germans 10 miles north of Kongvinger. The Norwegians in this area declare that the Germans have not crossed the deep ravine of the Glommen River. The defenders are attempting to advance southward, via Fet. for the purpose of making contact with the Norwegians on the Rakkestad front, where the Germans are attacking violently without success. Westward from Oslo the Norwegians appear to hold the ranks of the Hallingdalen, . between Lake Tyri and Drammen Fiord. The invaders claim ta have advanced 25 miles north from Kristiansand and 30 miles south from Trondheim, where it is declared, they have landed further heavy artillery. The Oslo commander has issued a proclamation prescribing summary execution for obeying mobilisation orders from “the pre-existent Government." or hindering the German advance. Berlin newspapers display a report, credited to an American source, that a “British fleet of transports has gone to sea in order to land troops either in Norway or in Holland.” According to a report from Sweden, Daventry announces, the Germans have abandoned Narvik and have attempted to take refuge in the mountains inland, pursued by Norwegian forces. The situation around Oslo is said to be little changed. North-west of Oslo, the Germans are held at all points, except one. and the Norwegian forces

are rapidly consolidating their positions. In other areas they have forced the Germans to retreat, but fierce fighting continues.