SWEDEN ON GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1940, Page 5

SWEDEN ON GUARD

PREPAREDNESS AGAINST AIR ATTACK ENFORCED THROUGHOUT COUNTRY. PLANE WITH FALSE MARKS SHOT DOWN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. STOCKHOLM. April 16. A state of preparedness against air attack over almost the whole country will be enforced at noon today. The Government will immediately requisition all minerals and oil. According to the Finnish wireless a German plane, which was shot down by Swedish anti-aircraft gunners yesterday, bore Swedish markings.' The plane circled low over Uddevalla and in spite of the markings it was clearly not a type used by the Swedish air force. A London message states that round Gothenburg (southern Sweden) huge blocks of rocks are being blasted for the building of shelters. Many windows were broken in buildings by 15 explosions caused by the blasting. LAND FIGHTING NORWEGIANS RALLYING. LONDON. April 15. Many Norwegian soldiers are rallying in the upper regions of Ostfold. Fear of their presence caused the Germans to evacuate the Kornsjoe frontier station and fell back to Halden. Snow and heavy clouds are hindering land and air activity in this region. Refugees from Halden report that only 400 Germans are occupying the fortress of Fredrikstad. Fighting continues near Elveruni. where German planes machine-gunned an assembly of unarmed Norwegian soldiers. The Norwegian Government radio declares that the Germans landed troops by parachute near Dombas. a junction on the Oslo-Trondheim railway. German troops which were trans- ' ported by train are attacking Hegge, where the Norwegians have felled trees and blocked the roads. CHANGES REPORTED THE NORWEGIAN PUPPET GOVERNMENT. NEW POST FOR QUISLING. ' . V. 1 By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright , OSLO. April 16. , The leader of the puppet govern- . ment, Major Quisling, in a broadcast . announced his resignation, and said he would accept the office of "Commissioner of the Demobilisation and Administrative Committee, of which Mr ( Christensen, chief of.the Oslo Muni- , cipal Council, was appointed head. ■ The radio also explained that, a de- - cision to reconstruct the puppet gov- j eminent was reached during conferences between Dr Brauer, at present | the Reich’s representative in Oslo. , and the president of the Norwegian . Supreme Court and representatives of the Oslo Chambers of Trade. Shipping and Industry.

FRENCH TROOPS ALSO SAID TO HAVE LANDED IN NORWAY. CANADIANS WITH BRITISH FORCE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, April 16. The keenest interest is still concentrated on the Narvik landings. It is understood that a number of Canadian troops are included in the British Expeditionary Force. The Paris Press suggests that the French participated in the landings There has been no official statement concerning this, but one Paris correspondent says it is thought, that when the full story is revealed it will be seen that the French share will prove as glorious as that of the British. The papers publish no more news than the British, but the "Petit Parisicn's" headline is: "New Allied forces disembark at several points.”

FAROE ISLANDS

BRITISH FORCES LANDED. WITH GOVERNOR'S APPROVAL. (British Oflicial Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, April 16. British forces have been landed at the Faroe Islands, slated Mr R. A. Butler (Parliamentary Under-Secre-tary for Foreign Affairs) in reply to a question in Hie House of Commons. In reply Io a communication from the British Government, the Governor of the Faroe Islands had agreed, under Hie present circumstances, to grant such facilities as might be required to prevent. the Germans establishing themselves in Hie Faroe Islands. Mr. Butler said no statement could yet be made regarding Greenland.