TRIBUTE TO TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 May 1940, Page 5

TRIBUTE TO TROOPS

MR CHAMBERLAIN DEFENDS WITHDRAWAL CAMPAIGN TO BE CONTINUED IN NORWAY. MR CHURCHILL’S NEW POST. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, May 7. In the House of Commons the Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, after paying a tribute to the skill of tiie British naval and military forces in effecting their withdrawal from Namsos in a single short night without any loss in the operation, described the bombing of the convoy of transports next day by fifty enemy bombers, resulting in the loss of only one British and one French 1 destroyer, although the ships were dependent for defence solely on anti-aircraft fire. Mr Chamberlain said the news of the withdrawal from Southern Norway had come as a profound shock to the public, but it was desirable not to exaggerate the extent and importance of the check to the Allies. France had shown remarkable steadiness and, as in England, the only effect of the reverse had been to stiffen determination. Turkey remained unperturbed. Egypt continued to strengthen her defences. In the Middle East the position had been quietened by a reversion to a normal Allied fleet distribution in the Mediterranean. NORWEGIAN APPEALS Analysing the reasons why the Allies had decided to try to take Trondheim, although knowing the serious difficulties and risks, the Premier mentioned urgent and repeated appeals from the Norwegian commander. It was made clear to the Allies that unless they were ready to assist in the only way the Norwegians themselves felt to be effective —by an attack on Trondheim —the Norwegians were not likely to feel able to resist and the whole country would have fallen at once into German hands. “We always believed,” the Premier said, “that if our troops could get ashore they would not suffer heavy casualties from the air, and in fact that proved be the case, but the absence of fighters enabled the enemy to attack our communications and hinder our reinforcement, whilst his own land communications enabled him to bring up an ever-increasing superiority o£ strength. It became clear that we could only maintain our forces in the Trondheim region by such a concentration of men, materials and aircraft as would have drawn off an altogether undue proportion of our total forces. In the special circumstances we decided to carry on the campaign in Noway elsewhere, with greater vigour and effect.” ENEMY GAINS—AT A PRICE Later Mr Chamberlain said: “It is quite obvious that the Germans have made certain gains. It is equally clear they have paid a heavy price for them. It is too early to say on which side balance will finally be inclined, because the campaign is not yet finished.” A large part of Norway, he continued, was not in German hands and the Government was still on Norwegian soil. It would rally round itself the remainder of the Norwegian forces and carry on the light against the invader, in which we should be at their side.

Asking for the co-operation of all parties, the Premier announced that the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr Churchill) was now authorised by Cabinet to give guidance and direction to the Chiefs of Staff Committee. Mr Churchill would have responsibility for the supervision of military operations day by day. This would ensure that every aspect of military policy was examined and that decisions would be followed with speed and energy.