FINE CO-OPERATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1940, Page 5

FINE CO-OPERATION

TRANSPORT OF BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE PROGRESS OF NORWEGIAN MOBILISATION. EARLY ACTION IN .PROSPECT AGAINST INVADERS. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, April 16. Behind yesterday's brief British communique regarding landings in Norway lies a story of the organisation and co-operation between the three fighting services. The nucleus of the Expeditionary Force was already available, having been prepared for Finland, and transports were ready at East Coast ports, while thousands of troops were waiting along the coast. Units, which for weeks had been in camps, barracks and billets moved down to the ports of embarkation at night time. The transports were loaded with additional heavy equipment, including guns, tanks and ammunition and finally an escort of destroyers and aeroplanes was assembled. Only a handful of high staff officers knew the exact destination, though every soldier and Bluejacket knew they were bound for somewhere in Norway. “It is too soon to estimate the influence of the Allied landing forces on German movements, says a military expert, "but at whatever points have been chosen, they will have the immediate effect of distracting German attention and for that reason alone will relieve pressure in the Oslo area. It is already -known that the Norwegian mobilisation in North Norway is completed. Therefore it will be possible shortly for the Norwegian Sixth Division, based at Harstad, north of Narvik, to take over a considerable part of the country’s defences. The Allies will soon have a formidable mobile fighting force, whose movements are likely to absorb the entire attention of the invaders.” FALL OF KONGSVINGER AFTER HEAVY BOMBING. FIGHTING IN NEARBY WOODS. (Received This Dav. 9.50 a.m.) LONDON. April 16. Kongsvinger has fallen, after heavy bombing. Swedish sources state that the Norwegians evacuated the town and fortress and heavy fighting is continuing in the nearby woods. The Germans have blown up the radio station at. Nottoden, whose broadcasts annoyed them. FULL AID FOR NORWAY PROMISED BY FRANCE. PARIS. April 15. .President Lebrun sent a message to King Haakon assuring him of France’s fullest assistance. ■11 .1. .1 II ■ ■ I. I !