THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 10, 1940.
RETREAT FROM KVAM Graphic Story Of Stout Defence By Three British Battalions: Dour Yorkshiremen
London, To-day.
A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION of the success of three actions in the Norwegian campaign enabling three British battalions, fighting by day, to with- draw during the short hours of darkness 103 miles over a single track railway down the Gud- brandsdal and Romsdalen to the sea, was given yesterday in London by an officer of General Paget's Staff.
Holding a position at Kvam for 48 hours in the face of incessant air attacks, to which they were un- able to reply except by machine-gun, a battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry suc- cessfully held up the German advance until or- .dered to withdraw.
A German column led by tanks and armoured cars made contact with the British troops early on the morning of April 26, Aring somewhat indiscrimin- ately into houses on the roadside as they advanced.
and artillery attack without means of replying.
Fantastic Claims ·
The position of rations, the staff officer said, was satisfactory. Only the most advanced troops, who must always rely upon such provisions as they have with them, did not receive regular adequate supplies.
Throughout the day Nazi
ak troops vainly endeavoured to work round the snow covered hills to pierce the flanks of the' British battalion.
He described German claims relat- 'When darkness fell the K.O.YLI..
ing to the capture of materials withdrew with precision down the
"fantastic," adding he did not think railway line to the little village of
that there were such quantities taken Otta, where a battalion of the Green
into Norway. The British troops Howards-together with one of the
took out all they could carry and Yorks and Lancs Regiment, had pre- destroyed as much of what was left pared a defensive position.
as they were able.-British Wireless.
Severe Fighting
Here on April 28 severe fighting took place the troops often being engaged hand to hand.
Such was the effect of the British resistance, the staff officer said, that it was noticed the Nazi troops after that day seemed unwilling to press home attacks and when the action was broken off that night the British troops withdrew unmolested to trains con-
cealed in a tunnel about three miles
behind the front line.
as
JAPANESE ADVANCE ON FANCHENG
Chungking, To-day. The Japanese vanguards are about 20 miles from Fan- cheng, according to the latest
A great tribute was paid by the Chinese field despatches from
northern Hupeh.
staff officer to the efficiency and de- votion to duty of the Norwegian railway and telephone services, which at great risk gave magnificent help to the British troops.
As the troops withdrew the demoli- tion of bridges proceeded according to plan and in no case did planned de- molition fall "to be blown."
Next halt was made at Dombaas where, because of the successful de- struction of bridges, the troops ob- tained one day's much needed rest and it was not-until April 30 that the enemy again made contact having re- ceived 'machine gun replacements by air.
K.O.Y.L.I. Again
During the afternoon the K.O.Y.L.I, again fought splendidly and at nine in the evening entrained at Dombaas station.
It was anticipated this battalion would go directly to Aandalsnes and there embark but the train was derail ed and the troops had to march 17. miles,
It says much for their morale, the staff officer says, that in spite of having fought hard alx hours on April 30, suffering a trainwreck and then marching 17 miles, they read!- ly deployed again at 5.30 In the afternoon of May 1 and easily held
again entrained and, reaching
A SENTENCE AND THE NAZI VERSION
London, To-day.
Mr. Lloyd George's comment in the Commons debate on Wednes- day, when Mr. Churchill said he would take complete responsibil- ity for everything done by the Admiralty and would take a full share of the burden, that "Mr. Churchill must.not allow himself to be converted into an air raid shelter to keep splinters from hit- ting his colleagues,” was trans. formed by a German Trans- Ocean broadcast into a surprising | statement.
Mr. Lloyd George was made to say: "I hope Mr. Churchill will hot take refuge in air raid cel.. lars to protect himself against splintera of shells hitting his Ministerial colleagues or 'Admir- ale."-British Wireless.
BRITAIN'S
RELATIONS
WITH SOVIET
London, To-day.
SOVIET'S OFFER OF BALTIC PACTS
New York, To-day.
The Soviet has proposed to Sweden and Finland pacts similar to those negotiated last year with Estonia, Lat- via and Lithuania, according to “a usually reliable source,” says the Stockholm corres- pondent of the "Christian Science Monitor”.
""
The correspondent adds the pro- posal is believed to be, receiving seri- and ous consideration in Stockholm Helsinki.
Søvlet pro- It is reported the posals include a plan for joint for- tification and defence of the Aaland islands.
It is further reported that if the proposals are accepted, the Soviet is willing to restore the Karelian pro- vinces to Finland.
The correspondent is of opinion that Sweden, faced with a choice be- tween German domination and gravitation towards the Soviet, might choose the latter as a lesser evil. —
Questions were asked in the Reuter. Commons yesterday after-
and
noon concerning trade rela- POLITICAL tions between Britain Russia and Britain and Italy. TRUCE IN
said
The Foreign Under-Secretary His Majesty's Government had under consideration a communication receiv- ed on April 29 from the Soviet Gov- ernment.
His Majesty's Government had now asked the Soviet Government to
ther the obligations undertaken by
DUBLIN
Dublin, To-day. A political truce was an- furnish them with further informa-nounced in the Dail yester- tion so that they could judge whe-day by Mr. William Cos- the Soviet Government would render grave, leader of the opposi- A Japanese column pushing north
it possible for that Government at tion. east Chungtsiang along the
present to conclude a trade agree- Mr. Cosgrave said his party did not from bank of the Han River has reached ment with the United Kingdom
propose to contest the by-election in of Huanglungkung," a village east
the lines which His Majesty's Gov- Galway for the seat rendered vacant by the death of the Government sup- Fancheng, and south of the main high-ernment had in mind.
Mr. Butler, in another reply, said porter, nor did he propose to move a way between Tsaoyang and Fancheng.
due The Japanese seem to be trying to cut the discussions between representa-writ for the Kilkenny vacancy the highway east of Fancheng near tives of the British and Italian Gov-to the death of the member of his
His own party. Shuankoucheng and to effect a junc-ernments were continuing and
they tion with the Japanese forces pushing Majesty's Government hoped
might lead to useful results.-British west along the Tsaoyang highway.
•
near
on
NO RIGHT TO CRITICISE
Another Japanese column from Wireless. Sulhelen has reached a point south- west of Teaoyang while a third co- 18 lum advanoing along the highway now engaging the Chinese Tanghelencheng, east of Teaoyang. A Japanese column from the Pel- ping-Hankow Railway which occupied Miyang has now passed Tangho and is pushing north along the highway to- wards Nanyang,
IN SWEDEN
Stockholm, To-day.
Mr. Cosgrave said he would not move the Kilkenny writ until the Premier said the danger of disturbance was past.
civil
It is understood both by-elections will be postponed for three months. -Reuter.
JAPANESE ARMS FOR
A Japanese column from Sinyang is The "Social-Demokraten," RUMANIA
near
Bucharest, To-day.
still engaged by the Chinese Tungpeh and is making little head-organ of the Social Democra- tic Labour Party of Sweden, way in its westward drive.-Reuter.
says that Sweden has no right ernment has offered to deliver to the to reproach Britain; she was Rumanian Government certain arma-
ATTACKS ON WIDE FRONT IN FRANCE
It is understood the Japanese Gov-
aircraft guns,
war
It is believed the offer will be ac-
never asked to protect Nor-ments, especially anti-tank and anti- way and never undertook It appears. these weapons proved
IS until the
Germ Germans their worth during the Sino-Japanese moved. Paris, To-day. The Swedes (the paper continues), cepted but the contract is awaiting the enemy until dark when they Last night's French war communi-who have done and are doing nothing clarification by the Japanese Gov- Aandalenes, embarked, being the que stated that during the previous for their Norwegian brothers have no ernment regarding the method of
took moral right to criticise Britain for the night's infantry actions, which last troops to leave Norway.
́enemy | fallure of her help.... The staff officer described the Ger-place on a large front, the
The paper pays tribute to British man troops as efficient and very well everywhere were repulsed.
During the day there was activity of democracy which allowed such a de- trained.
to the west of the bate. to be held in open session with The staff officer paid high praise both artilleries
Who Vosges and in the region of Wissem-the whole world listening. There are to these British Territorials
weaknesses in such a democracy, but before. held the enemy in spite of both air bourg-Reuter.
payment-Reuter
the democracy is restored to health by its own strength,
One thing is certain: Britain, will take the war far more earnestly than
-Reuter