ASSAULT ON NARVIK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1940, Page 5

ASSAULT ON NARVIK

BITTER STREET FIGHTING REPORTED FOOTHOLD GAINED BY BRITISH TROOPS. GERMANS FALLING BACK. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Reported This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON, April 17. According to the British United Press special correspondent on the Swedish-Norwegian frontier, bitter street fighting is occurring between British and German troops in Narvik The British have gained a solid foothold in the lower part of the town, the Germans falling back, but about 2500 Germans are holding out at the railway station and west of the town. FALSE GERMAN REPORTS IMPORTANCE OF TOWN MINIMISED. SIGNIFICANCE OF ALLIED SILENCE. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON, April 17. The official German agency has revived the claim that Narvik is still in German hands. It says British warships again bombarded the port and town last night, but did not attempt to land troops. The German Press continues to minimise the importance of Narvik and seems to be preparing the public for an announcement that the town has fallen. The absence of any official British statement, confirming the claim that Narvik has been retaken, might indicate that the Allies are well established, but. are mopping up the Germans before announcing the capture. CAMPAIGN EVENTS ENEMY PROGRESS AT SOME POINTS. BELATED ADMISSIONS MADE

BY GERMANS. LONDON, April 17. The Nazi radio omitted to claim that Narvik was still in German hands, which it repeated at almost half-hourly intervals last night. The Norwegian commander-in-chiei issued a communique reaffirming that the British troops had made contact with the Norwegians in Northern Norway and also stated that the Noiwegians retreated eastward after an attack by a strong German force at Eidsvold, Norwegian skiers successfully counterattacking the enemy’s flanks. Three German planes made forced landings when the Germans bombed Moldc. ••We wiped out a German patrol and shot down two German planes," adds the communique. "The fate of several others is uncertain.” A Stockholm report says the Germans are gaining the upper hand and taking many prisoners qt Bjoerfjell. After a fierce battle lasting five hours, the Norwegians, with inferior equipment and outnumbered by four to one. tried repeatedly to reach Sweden, but the German fire mowed them down. There are further reports of the treachery of some Norwegian officers. One junior, it is related, shot his captain who ordered troops to surrender. A Norwegian artillery unit fired on its own troops, either through a mistake or treachery. The German Legation at Stockholm says the remnants of the Norwegian army have used up most of their ammunition. A German High Command communique for the first time admitted that British troops had landed at Harstad. on the island of Hindo near Narvik. It also announced the death in action of Commodore Bonte, Commander of the German naval forces at Narvik. ATTACK ON TRONDHEIM AND ON SEAPLANE BASE. LARGE FIRE OBSERVED. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON. April 17. It is officially stated that the Royal Air Force last night bombed Trondheim Aerodrome and a nearby seaplane base. A large fire was observed after the attack. EVICTION IN PROSPECT ALLIED PLANS AT NARVIK. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) . LONDON, April 17. A War Office spokesman stated that Allied operations in Norway are likely to be on a large scale and pushed, home as speedily as possible “till the Germans are evicted.”