BIG DEVELOPMENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1943, Page 4

BIG DEVELOPMENTS

EXPECTED IN NORTHERN EUROPE

FINAND & SWEDEN BOTH IN DELICATE POSITION. TROUBLE OVER NAZI ATTACK ON SUBMARINE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 26. Big developments in Northern Europe, in which Finland and possibly Sweden may be involved, are expected by Stockholm observers. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Stockholm correspondent says the possibility that Germany is about to invade Finland is being discussed. Difficulties exist over German demands for more assistance against Russia. Finland is also said to be facing a request from the United States that she cease from “struggling along with Germany.” «> The “Daily Mail’s” Stockholm correspondent says observers now consider that the action of the United States in withdrawing its Legation staff from Finland has precipitated a crisis. Either Finland must toe the German line or Germany must attempt to occupy the whole of Finland. The recent Anglo-Russian bombing of Germany’s Baltic ports is regarded as evidence both of German massing for a Finnish invasion and of Allied willingness to come to Finland's aid. It is also thought to be a sign that the Allies have carefully thought out a plan which may include an invasion of Norway. A delicate position has also developed in relations between Germany and Sweden over Hie Altkirch incident. A second strong Swedish Note, in addition to being a rejoinder to the German rejection of the original Swedish protest, added a, protest which resulted from the fact that the Swedish Navy found submerged German mines anchored far inside the territorial limit. Both the original Note and the rejoinder were couched in terms which the Swedes could not possibly have used two years, or even a year ago. The Swedish public and Press are universally applauding them. There is no doubt that Sweden is no longer saluting Berlin. The “Daily Express” reports that between 6,000 and 7,000 German soldiers are being transported each week by train across Sweden to Norway. The German strength in Norway is at present between 200,000 and 250,000. The Swedish railways are also being used to reinforce the Finnish Army.

The German Government has rejected Sweden's protest against the shelling of the submarine Drdken on April 21, the Berlin radio stated. The reasons given were: First, the incident occurred outside Swedish territorial waters; and, secondly, the submarine’s completely incomprehensible behaviour, conflicting with the Swedish Navy’s orders, caused the conflict. The Swedish protest therefore could not be recognised as justified. . The reply added that the Draken contravened a Swedish naval order issued on August 12, 1940, designed to avoid confusion between Swedish and British submarines. Soon after being sighted, the Draken submerged without showing the Swedish flag or giving any other signal, and then raised its periscope, leading the captain of the Altkirch to believe she was an enemy submarine preparing to launch a torpedo. The captain then gave the fully-justified order to shoot. The reply concluded with a request to the Swedish Government to issue instructions to her submarines to prevent the recurrence of such regrettable incidents.

The Swedish Foreign Office issued a statement that the “German reply is of such a nature that it must obviously be followed by a further exchange of views.”