Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1940. CRITICAL DAYS IN NORWAY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1940. CRITICAL DAYS IN NORWAY.

TT is now clear that Hitler exhibited his usual disregard For truth in his boast, reported yesterday, that the German troops had established land connections between Oslo and Trondheim and that: “Thus the intention of the Western Powers to bring Germany to her knees by a belated occupation of Norway has been finally crushed.” Even had the Germans gained the undisputed command claimed for them by Hitler over the railway between Oslo and Trondheim, the struggle in Norway would by no means have been over. It would have been, rather, only beginning. Tn fact, however, no such measure of success has yet been gained by the Germans.

According to the latest dependable news in. hand at lime of writing, the Allies are holding strongly the .junction ol Storen, on the railway about 30 miles south of Trondheim and are also holding positions much further south, covering Dombas, which is a junction of the Oslo —Trondheim kailvax and another line running to the coast at Andalsnes, one ol the Allied landing ports on the west coast. The- Germans ate reported to have been halted in the Gndbrands Valley, a dozen miles south of Dombas, and in the Oster A alley, luriher easl, but an enemy force which advanced across the mountains is reported to have reached Opdal, on the railway between Stolen and Dombas.

The operations now in progress manifestly are ol lhe utmost importance. Making' the most of their possession meantime of the principal Norwegian seaports, fortresses and aerodromes, the Germans are striving with might and main to gain command of the internal communications ol tin* country and particularly of the railways between Oslo and Trondheim. On account of the .initial'difficulties under which they are labouring, in such matters as those ol landing points and the lack of aerodromes, the Allies admittedly are laced by no easy task in their endeavours to prevent the .junctioning of the German southern forces with those at Trondheim. It cannot, be taken for granted that the Allies will succeed in maintaining their grip on Dombas, Storen and other points on the Oslo —Trondheim Railway. Even should the Gormans make some further headway in the struggle lor the possession of interior communications, however, it by no means follows that they will be able to retain this advantage. The factor of seapower has its all-important bearing on the campaign on land. Holding command of the sea, the Allies no doubt can build up their land forces in Norway to whatever point may be necessary. The Germans, on the other hand, can be reinforced and supplied only by air and presumably on a very limited scale by ships which contrive to run the gauntlet of naval patrols and mines in the Skagerrak. It is sufficiently obvious, however, that if the A,Hies are able to maintain their grip on the railways south of Trondheim, they will in that achievement be taking a vital step towards victory and will be doing a good deal to lighten their total remaining task in Norway. NO TIME FOR PESSIMISM, early statement on the position in Norway promised by the British Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) evidently is needed to dispose of questions like those raised by the Opposition Liberal Leader in the House of Commons (Sir Archibald Sinclair) in a speech reported briefly yesterday. Sir Archibald Sinclair, it is stated, “deplored the defeatist attitude of some British people am] asked the. reason for articles, apparently inspired, suggesting that the British forces should be evacuated from Norway.” Tt certainly must be hoped that suggestions of this kind come from no responsible quarter in Britain and that they would bo rejected by an overwhelming weight of national opinion as something thal would come appropriately only from the propaganda department of the Nazis. That a full-powered and unremitting effort in Norway is demanded of the Allies goes without saying. Apart from the obligation that is owed to Norway —an obligation that is now in itself of binding force —the Allies in their own interests can afford to be content with nothing loss than the complete and decisive defeat, of the German invasion of Norway. To Germany, possession of Norway, if she could but secure il. would mean not only the recovery of access to essential iron supplies of which she is now in great part deprived, bill the use of air and'TT-hoaf bases from which Io allack Britain ami British, Allied and neutral shipping al shorl range. (hi Hie other hand, Hie overthrow of the invading forces in Norway very possibly may lay Germany open Io damaging attack from the Baltic. Even at the present stage il is maiiifesl Ihal lhe Allies, engaged admittedly in I lie early stages ol an arduous and difficult task, are defending their own vital interests in Norway. In those eiiviimstanees. Mr Ghiimlierlain’s statement should make il clear I hat lhe British Government has no oilier thought, than Io prosecute the campaign in Norway with all possible energy and resolution.