INVASION OF NORWAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1942, Page 4

INVASION OF NORWAY

FEARED BY THE NAZIS FRANTIC EFFORTS TO FORTIFY COASTLINE. SEVERAL NEW DIVISIONS SENT IN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, April 21. Hitler, fearing an invasion of Norway, has sent in several new divisions, equipped with the most modern armaments, including a panzer unit, says the Norwegian Telegraph Agency. Frantic efforts are being made to fortify the whole coastline. All possible landing places are being barricaded with concrete strongpoints and masses of barbed wire against amphibious tanks and flat-bottomed barges. Bodo, on the Vest Fiord, in Northern Norway, has become a complete fortress. Heavy artillery, besides machineguns, has been mounted in the midst of the ruins created by bombs when the Germans entered Norway. Bodo aerodrome and barracks and also the surrounding electric power plants have been mined, but the greatest hustle is occurring on the extension of the northern railway, from Mosjun to Bodo, on which a large number of conscript labourers are. employed. Norwegians and Danes, under the eyes of German guards, work at high pressure on the Trondheim naval base. Those who go slow or rebel are sent to German camps. PERSECUTION OF PATRIOTS. Meantime a fresh campaign has begun against Norwegian patriots. Hundreds more teachers, business people, engineers, journalists and workers have been imprisoned. The Oslo radio says Quisling has tightened up regulations to prevent Norwegians escaping to Britain and has imposed a stricter control over small craft, the owners of which are liable to long terms of imprisonment for. breaches of the regulations. Would-be escapees are already liable to the death sentence. The “Svenska. Dagbladet” states that Norwegian lawyers, following the example of teachers, have decided to resign in a mass from the new Nazi “lawyers’ front.” Over 95 per cent have already handed in their resignations, although they are threatened with the loss of their rights to practise as barristers and solicitors.