NORWEGIAN HOPES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1940, Page 5

NORWEGIAN HOPES

MINISTERS REACH LONDON Confident that Allies Will Free Country TIME NEEDED TO MAKE AID EFFECTIVE * i REPORTS OF HEAVY FIGHTING AT NARVIK The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Professor Koht, and the Defence Minister, M. Monsen, have arrived in London with the British Minister at Oslo, Daventry reports Professor Koht is hoping to see Lord Halifax, Mr Churchill ana other members of Cabinet and is going to Paris to meet leading French statesmen. Professor Koht, referring to the Allied help to Norway, said that even the Polish Government had sent 4,000 men. He gave a word of warning and comfort to those who expected ■quick results that it was quite obvious it would take some time for the Allies’ help to become effective. He asked Norwegians not to be impatient even if things seemed to be going slowly. For the Western Powers, he said, it was not only a question of self-interest but a question of honour to free Norway from Germany’s grasp. He was convinced that they would do it. Professor Koht went on to speak in strong terms of Germany’s ruthless policy and said the German invasion of Norway had proved the worst defeat morally that Germany had suffered in recent years, as no one in the world would now dare to trust the word of Germany. A War Office communique states that there is nothing to report from Narvik, where operations are continuing. Slight enemy air activity is reported in this area. Reports from Swedish sources state that heavy fighting has been going on around Narvik. A battle occurred in a snowstorm and Allied forces bombarded the German positions from land and sea.

A Norwegian communique states that Roros changed hands for the second or third time when German troops again entered it.