INLAND FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 April 1940, Page 5

INLAND FIGHTING

POSITION NOT YET.MADE CLEAR ' GERMANS BADLY PLACED AT TRONDHEIM. FEARS OF BEING TRAPPED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. April 22. It appears to be established that German forces advancing north from Oslo are now faced with Allied as well as Norwegian troops near the heart of Norway. Swedish Press reports are more specific than the recent British and Norwegian communiques but are unconfirmed. These persist that British troops, advancing nearly 200 miles along the Gudbrandsdal Valley equipped with tanks and other heavy armaments. contacted Norwegians north ofLake Mjosa. There is no confirmation of earlier reports that the Allies have captured Hamar. The Germans bombed Lillehammer, 30 miles from Hamar in Gudbrandsdal Valley, indicating the presence of strong forces at least close to Hamar. Some reports state that the British and French troops travelled by road and rail to near Hamar, and it is even asserted that the Germans are being driven back from Elverum, but these reports should be taken with reserve. The suggestion that the Allied troops reached eastern Norway by rail is supported by German accounts of bombing, of the coastal terminis of the railways and at Lillehammer and Dombas. It is in this area that the Germans have made repeated attempts to cut the line by landing parachute troops. The Stockholm correspondent of the "News Chronicle" says that 3000 Germans are feverishly attempting to strengthen the defences of Trondheim, from which 35,000 civilians, representing half the population, have been evacuated to the hills. The Germans are fearful of being trapped from the north and south. The German attempts to link up their forces in Bergen, Trondheim and Oslo have now been completely foiled. A Norwegian communique says:— “The Germans on Saturday, supported by planes and artillery, attacked on both sides of Lake Mjosa, but our troops hold their positions. The Germans also machine-gunned and bombed Lillehammer and dropped leaflets. A house near the railway was set on fire. The Germans bombed other towns, including Andalsnes. Many planes were seen flying northward, and one was shot down." The German official News Agency says that German troops advancing rapidly from the south, reached Lillehammer.