DANES IN REVOLT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1943, Page 4

DANES IN REVOLT

AGAINST NAZI DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW GENERAL STRIKE REPORTED BY SWEDISH NEWSPAPERS. PARTICULARS OF THE ESCAPE OF WARSHIPS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, August 29. Open rebellion is reported to have broken out in Denmark as a result of the issue of a German proclamation placing the whole country under martial law. Communications between Denmark and the rest of the world are still cut off, but Swedish newspapers publish reports that a general strike has been declared and that 3,000 German

troops have been landed in Copenhagen to patrol the streets in tanks, in an effort to maintain order.

Router’s Stockholm correspondent says six Danish warships, including gunboats and torpedo-boats, have arrived at Malmo and Landskrona, Sweden, and seven other warships are reported to have reached Landskrona. carrying a large number of civilians, including members of the Danish Government. According to the crew of one warship at Malmo, other units of the Danish Navy scuttled themselves in Copenhagen Harbour early this morning, following on the declaration of martial law. One torpedo-boat which arrived at Malmo fled from Copenhagen under the ffi-e of German guns. It is stated that heavy fighting occurred in Copenhagen last night, when Danish seamen fought a delaying action while the fleet was being scuttled. The seamen also blew up munition dumps and port installations.

The Associated Press of Great Britain correspondent in Stockholm says the Danish Navy, it is estimated, comprises two cruisers, 13 torpedo-boats, twelve submarines, 21 mine-sweepers, six mine-layers and the Royal Yacht. It is unofficially estimated that there were about twenty Danish vessels in Copenhagen Harbour. According to Swedish newspapers, martial law was proclaimed after the Danes had rejected an ultimatum presented by the German Minister in Denmark, Werner Best, following on his two days’ conference with Himmler. PRO-NA2! STATEMENT. Professor Gudmund Hatt, a Dane, broadcasting on the Danish radio, reviewed Germany’s difficulties in occupied countries and emphasised that British propaganda was resulting in an upsurge of national feeling and sabotage. The Germans, he added, were thus forced to take counter-measures. The Berlin radio stated that strikes and sabotage in Denmark were promoted by Christian Mueller and his associates. Mueller was the former Danish Minister for Commerce, but he escaped to England early last year. A message from him was today broadcast to the Danish people by the 8.8. C. European service. Mueller’s message said: “Three years of German occupation, three years of exploitation and three years of injustice have finally resulted in revolts against the Germans. We are proud of our countrymen. The Germans have again been defeated, but they are carrying on in their usual brutal way. They cannot bond the neck of the Danish people, just as they could not bend the neck of the Swedish people.” Reuter’s Stockholm' correspondent says King Christian is believed to be confined in a castle about ten miles from Copenhagen. “OPENLY AT WAR” FURIOUS RESISTANCE TO NAZIS.

DANES DOING ALL THE DAMAGE THEY CAN.

(Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 29. The Danes, since midnight on Saturday, have been openly at war against Germany, correspondents in Stockholm state. Sixteen hours of German martial law failed to bring the angry Danes to heel. "Sabotage has reached new' proportions as the desperate populace seeks to do as much damage as possible before the Germans complete their grip on the country. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Stockholm correspondent reports that King Christian is a prisoner of the German Army in the palace of Sorcenfri. News of his abdication is expected hourly. The Danish Government has ceased functioning and the entire country is under German military dictatorship. KING’S BODYGUARD SAID TO HAVE FOUGHT TO THE LAST. (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 29. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says it is credibly stated in Danish circles that the King’s bodyguard fought a night battle against the Germans until all the Danes: were killed or overpowered. The Danes were reported to be still fighting in the afternoon, but the reports lack details. “The Times” says: The fighting in Denmark is a desperate outburst which, even if organised, cannot last long but it is not a hopeless fight, for the Danes have always been convinced of Germany’s ultimate defeat and they have been chafing under the stigma of the great betrayal of 1940, in which they were tricked into apparent acquiescence with ihe German occupation. There is speculation as to whether the members of the Danish Government have escaped, to establish a Government in exile.