FIRST ENGAGEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1940, Page 5

FIRST ENGAGEMENT

BRITISH & GERMAN TROOPS FIGHTING NEAR NAMSOS. MORE ABOUT THE HARDY SURVIVORS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, April 19. The first engagement between British and German troops in Norway occurred near the Namsos railhead, north of Trondheim, the Germans being driven back. A number of survivors from the destroyed Hardy, who hitherto it was believed had gone inland in Norway, arrived at a Scottish port wearing Norwegian caps, ski-ing suits and fishermen’s seaboots. One said that when the Hardy was beached many jumped into the sea and scrambled up the jagged rocks. The villagers gave them spare clothing. "We stayed in Norway for four days,” he said, "and watched the second great battle in Narvik Fiord. The Warspile and her escort of destroyers played hell with the Germans." The men from the Hardy later made contact with the British naval force. STEMMING THE INVASION ANGLO-NORWEGIAN PLANS. DECISION TO HOLD HAM AR. (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) STOCKHOLM. April 19. The correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain refers to the reported arrival of British officers at Hamar, which the Norwegians had prepared to evacuate, for an Anglo-Norwegian offensive farther northward, probably at El verum. In the meantime the Norwegians have erected barricades ten feet high across the highway, to impede the German advance from Oslo. The Germans are rushing small tanks and troops in buses to Hamar. A report from another source says the Norwegians are confident that they can hold the invaders, who are only about 12 miles from Hamar, advancingon both sides of the Glommen River. Reports from Oslo state that while all is quiet there, there are still detachments of armed Norwegians in the woods. The telephone wire to Oslo is frequently cut and there have been other,acts of sabotage.