Saturday,
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
April 13, 1940.
Library, Supreme Cours
MINEFIELD ISOLATES
GERMANY
No entry or egress for Holland, Denmark, Sweden or the Nazis without permission of
of British
British Fleet: Kiel blockaded
NAZI INVADERS IN NORWAY CUT OFF FROM GERMAN BASES
SPECIAL ΤΟ THE "TELEGRAPH"
PARIS, APRIL 12 (UP).—THE BRILLIANTLY
CONCEIVED
BRITISH MINING OPERATIONS OFF THE COASTS OF HOLLAND, DENMARK, AND NORWAY, AND IN THE KÄTTEGAT AND SKAG- GERAK, HAVE COMPLETELY ISOLATED THE BALTIC FROM THE NORTH SEA.
ALL GERMan warSHIPS AND TRANSPORTS AT PORTS IN NORWAY ARE NOW CUT OFF FROM GERMANY AND DENMARK.
German troops operating in Norway can receive supplies and rein-^ forcements only by air.
The minefield, which is in two sections, is the longest that has over -been laid in any war.
HELIGOLAND BAY ISOLATED
One line extends from the Frisian Islands in Holland across Heligo- land Bay to Jutland in Denmark.
It completely blockades the German WARSHIP VERSUS
bases in Heligoland Bay and the western coast of Denmark.
From Jutland the minefield then extends in a nor'-nor-easterly direc- THE WARPLANE:
tion across the eastern extremity of the Skaggerak to the coast of Norway, which it follows up to Stavanger, Egersund and Christiansand.
This minefield prevents entry or egress into the Skaggerak or Baltic. FIFTY MILES FROM KIEL
The second minefield, which runs at right angles to the first, which it intersects at the northern extremity of the Skaggerak in Norwegian waters, parallels the Norwegian coast past Oslo Fjord, and then runs down parallel with the Swedish coast and down the Kattegat almost to the Great and Little Belts in Denmark.
IT REACHES TO WITHIN FIFTY MILES OF KIEL!
FIRST REAL TEST
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH"
planes versus warships is being fought out in Scandinavia.
LONDON, April 12 (UP).—The first large-scale test of nero-
The mines do not enter Swedish or Dutch territorial to be re-written.
NAZIS ARE waters, but there is no egress or ingress except through
narrow channels which are heavily patrolled by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
TRAPPED Troops In North Norway Completely Cut Off LONDON, Apr. 12 (Reuter). --Apart from Oslo, where some German reinforcements are re- ported to have been landed, the NO-ROUTE-FOR-NAZIS German troops in Norway are more or less beleaguered.
In effect no vessel can enter or leave Holland, Den- mark, Sweden or the Baltic without permission of the British Flect.
At Narvik the garrison is
Swedish vessels have a channel of 20 miles through which they may pass.
HONEYED WORDS
depend upon
The result of the struggle will the extent of the difficulties the Allies have to face in uprooting the Germans in Norway. The test will prove whether or not the axioms of naval strategy will have
On two vital counts Hitler has boldly violated naval principles by sending an expeditionary force across waters without bolding un- disputed command of those waters, hitherto believed to be suicidal, and by putting his naval forces into three isolated parts in face at official Germon news agency reports eventual overwhelming naval forces.
CONFLICTING
REPORTS
are to hand regarding the fate of Bergen, second largest city in Norway, pictured above.
Within the past 72 hours the elty has been reported as being in German, British Norwegian hands.
and
Apparently, the environs of the city are in Norweglan possession while the city and Harbour are held by the Ger- mans.
Photograph 'above shows the and Commerce magnificent Shipping Building, in the heart of the city.
Nazi Losses Totted Up
OSLO FJORD BATTLE
Naval Armada
Off Trondheim
SPECIAL TO THE "TELKORAPH”
STOCKHOLM. Apr. 12 (UP).-Oslo Fjord has be come the venue for a big battle between British and. German naval and air units. while teh. British warships are concentrated in readi- ness for an attack on Trondheim.
Most of the published and. broadcast reports dealing with the fighting in Norway and around the coast have not been officially confirmed, but it is In- dicated that the Allied air and naval forces are making stern thrusts against the Germans in the Skaggerak and along the. west const of Norway..
Norwegian forces are also Debt- ing a determined guerilla warfare against the Nazis, especially in the
028
Attempting To Land
Latest reports from Stromstad {state that there are unmistakable signa of an important air and naval battle at the mouth of the Oslo Fjord, where, It is believed, British forces are attempting to land lo the face of Berce opposition from the coastal batteries manned by Nazis.
According to a report in the "Nydagligt Allehanda,” a most con- servative and rellable Swedish paper, the British have concentrated air and naval forces in Folden Fjord near Namsos, about 12 miles north of Trondheim.
Apparently, the design is to: launch an attack on the part while the Norwegian Hines around Trend- helm on the land side are belog strengthened.
bombardment
Nazi "Re-Assuranco"
Gnoisenau, Emden And For The Danos
Karlsruhe Named SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH" BERLIN. Apr. 12 (UP)-The
STOCKHOLM, Apr. 12 (Reu-
Another report in the same paper Norwegian
com-states that Norwegian military sites Copenhagen that enemy from
General ter).The
been practically Kauplsch, commandant of the Nazi munique which mentions the at Elverum have
by Intensive German Before the advent of modern air forces in Denmark, to-day issued a sinking of the German battle-wiped aut would be almost certainly Intal. It through the Danish press, thanking naval operations of the past few say that the Norwegian forces are either of these procedures declaration to the Danish people ship, Gneisenau, deals with the Further reports from the frontier was undoubtedly from this viewpoint them for the "correct and friendly that. Winston Churchill characterised manner in which Denmark received days and mentions the ports fighting the Germans along a ne
captured by the Germans; the adventure "as great a strategic the German
He
The and political error as that committed
contin
German
It says that the Gaelsenau WAB troops, for their part, have received sunk in Oslo Fjord. the order to conduct themselves with Transport By Plane
A six-thousand ton cruiser, dasum- several Big-scale transport of troop sup-as much discipline and politeness used to be the
Emden, and they would at home. an Admiralty plies by' airplanes will likely have with goodwill on both sides, the best minesweepers Karlsruhe, 6,000 tons, i hope that, smaller warships and destroyers and
were also sunk. a vital bearing upon the Germans possible relations can be maintained The cruiser ability to maintain their foothold in pos
as long as it is necessary for German was sunk off Christiansand. Norway. Even
though the Ailles
Troops "to remain in Denmark.
The destroyer Aeger sank a large manage to permanently cut the Ger-
"I hope, in the interests of Den- German vessel eff Stavanger, mans' sea communications through
A German troop-ship was sunk at
on a warship.
It is impossible for any German vessel to pass unless by Napoleon by invading Spain." it cares to risk travelling through the minefield.
The area affected, as notified in
warning, is as follows:
ringed round by Norwegians. Further south, Bergen is at present being held by German troops estimated at about 2,000. An attempt to sally out has been repulsed by the Norwegians.
The German advance from Oslo has watera, northward to latitude 56. The following appointments to the Kattegat, Hitler will still be able turk as well as Germany, that this been fanwise in the north and cust. Įdegrees north, then to a position be Justices of the Peace are pour thousands of fully equipped time will be short', concluded Gen- Bergen and a direct hit was scored
The official Nazi news agency con- in latitude 60 degrees north, Fannounced in to-day's issue or/men to Norway by air in big troop
that
West limit, longitude five de- grees cast from Dutch territorial i
longitude four degrees east..
NEW J.P.'S.
the "Government Gazelte":
to
carrying planes,
tradicts Wednesday's claim Elverum has been taken anul says
It is reliably reported that the that the German troops have reached North Imit, latitude 40 degrees Official: Messrs. F. Flippance and Germans are already using several towns 25 miles cast and 45 miles north to the Norwegian coast, thence T. J. Houston, Lieut. Colonel II. B. hundred troop-carriers, transporting north-cast of Osio. Elverum which south and east along the coast to Rose, Arc., Wing Commander A. H. twenty men in each. is another 30 miles further north Is Swedish territorial waters.
Steele-Perkins, 0.0..
Owing to
to the short distance in- being guarded by the Norwegions, East Limit, Swedish fcrritorial)
Unofficial: Dra. J. W. Anderson, H. volved It is possible that several trips waters south limit (1) in the Katte-Balean, R. A. de Castro Baglo andare made daily, thus landing several gut, latitude 57 degrees north, (2) Messrs. C. C. Black, R. D. Gillespie, thousand soldiers daily.
Skager In the cast a number of Norwegian Danish Rake and North Sen, H. C. Macnamara, D. L. Newbigging. The comparatively short flights
and A. H.. H. Phillips, E. G. Price, No mines have been laid in af
Big Battle Expected
The advancing Germans are backed up by aeroplanes and various points north-east of Oslo have been bombed. The fact that the Nazis have not even got complete control of the area around Oslo is seen in a report which was given yesterday. The re- port states that they find again bomb- ed Frederiksted on the Oslo Fjord, south of Oslo.
the
and German
coasts
troops have massed near the Swedish Dutch territorial waters. border. A big battle is expected near Konksvinger, which is some 50 miles channel extending 10 miles on either Christiansand all of which are un- west-north of Oslo.
side of a line through the following safe for entering or leaving. positions: (1) Romstar light, latitude 30.48 north, longitude 11 east.
The mines continue across
the
tude 7.50 enst.
(4) Latitude 37,30 north, longi- down the Kattegat into the Great Skaner flak, up the Oslo Fjord and
and Little Bells some 50 miles from (3) Latitude 57,30 north, long- Kiel. tude 4.38 east.
Vast Area Of Field 20 Mile Channel
The Germans will undoubtedly LONDON, Apr. 12 (Reuter)The new minefleld laid yesterday
try to sweep up the mines but this not enter Dutch or Swedish terri-
will be a colossal task due to the vast area of the field. tortal waters, although it reaches as
in certain that LONDON, Apr. 12 (Reuter). It far as the latter.
Care has been taken to leave a
muy have access from
Nazis Now Vulnerable
'docs
moke possible for the transports to be escorted by protective fighting planes.
eral Kauptsch's declaration.
Danes Fought At First
True Story Of Invasion Now Revealed
Several Norwegian ships were sunk but the number of dead is uncertain.
extending north and northeast – of. Oslo.
A later report from Gillerle on the Kattegat states that there is no in- dication of naval fighting in the Kattegat to-day.
A
.....
Battlo Near Osfo',"
ཏིརཱུཎཱĪ ཀཱུ རིདྷྭ དྷ-,, བྷཱཏ་ STOCKHOLM, Apr. 12 (Reuter)*** Norwegian communique Issued here states that a battle is procce-ling at Fossum Langenes, a bridge north of Oslo.
The bridges across the Glomma of the Norwegian positions pre
and Vormen Rivers in fred.
All telephone and telegraph Ines to Germany have Been cut.
The electricity supply of Oslo has
the dum.
EXHORTATION TO been Interrupted by the opening of
TIMBER TRADE
Minister Of Supply
Explains Position
Berlin Commentary LONDON, Apr. 12 (Reuter),--A semi-official commentary from Berlin do-
on the Norwegian operations clares that reinforcement of some buses wus continued.
More and more constal batteries LONDON, Apr. 12 (Reuteri. LONDON, Apr. 12 (Reuter)-The are made ready for fighting. More -The Danish Minister for De-importance of home timber was air bases are taken over and anti- ! fence yesterday revealed that stressed by the Rt. Hon. Mr. E. Leslie aircraft positions are extended.
Minister of Supply, to-day |Burgin,
Fresh supply, froops náið muni-
turbance.
British Tars' when the German invasion began when addressing the Timber Trade tions are continuing without dis
Initiative
Landing Effected By Hardy's Survivors LONDON, Apr. 12 (Reuter). sweepers will be attacked by theIt was learned in authoritativa R.A.F, fleet air arm.
Any mine
the
more
the Danish troops were at first Federation to-day. given orders to resist.
With Scandinavis cut off and the
The coastal batteries off Trondheim Only an hour and a half later It was Daille closed, the possibilities for repulsed light British naval forces, decided that resistance should cease. home timber are as bright as I could which intended to rush forward.
In the fighting 12 Danes were killed have wished, he said...
The commentary repeats Die claim Timber is wasted in increasing that six British destroyers were sunk. and 20 wounded. An aerodrome was
is available in off Narvik bombed by
Nazis
one quantities and it and
and asserts that diminishing quantities," he added. Danish plane shot down.
destroyers were destroyed by Ger- Press Muzzled.
"Anything we can do to bring the man naval and air forces. timber here will be done. The has become increasingly evident that channe! 20 miles wide through which
Norwegian Communiquo The muzzling of the Danish press, bos now been admitted by the greater the use that can be made of
LONDON, Apr.. 12 (Reuter)---The the Co-mane have exposed them ships
home ümber the greater you wil The mine fleld seems to be doing circles to-day that when the Germans.
military situation In Norway is out selves to increasing damage by their Swedish coast to the North Sea. Invasion of Senna.navin, semi-omein!
the Its work already. Yesterday watchers destroyer Hardy ran aghore at The commander of the invading help the mercantile marine.
The Government intends to regard lined in a Norwegian High Command on the Swedish shore at Stromstad, Narvik, some of the crew went yesterday that so long as the Danish for which, if competition or shippingholm Radio to-night
forces told neutral correspondents timber as an essential raw material communique broadcast by the Stock- The new field constitutes a major near the Norwegian border, saw a nshore as though "starting a newspapers did not print articles is not too severe, space will always sources here state.
Me. Churchill in his review of the operation which must have very far large ship go up in flames after operation has made it clear that the reaching resulta for no ships can now several explosions.
little military expedition on against Germany they will not be action has automatically
leave or enter German Intenslied
or Danish She is believed to have been an their own." ports in the North Sea or Danish oll tanker, The Swedish ports in the Baltic.
watchers also
the Allied blockade.
const
All Norwegian ports from just be-explosions ali port hearing heavy seen in boats after the destroyer had he said.
morning.
Prohibitions
follows!
The Germans have occupied Oslo and the immediate neighbourhood. Interfered with. But if they do print be reserved," he concluded.
Norwegian troops are holding a line north and north-east of Oslo. The German naval forces, after
It is stated that 40 or 50 men were such articles we will not, tolerate it,
New Board Of Trade German forcen control Christian their long seclusion in safe ports, are low Bergen, and these include the
run ashore. They were fully armed.
Over 170 members of tho British,;
sand, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim now dispersed along the sea front ports of
French As no major engagements took Nothing has since been heard of the Denmarks are now on their way to and Pollsh missions in
and two other coastal points in which is many hundreds of miles in
Stavanger, Egersund and place in the Kattegat yesterday it is gallant band.
Southern Norway, length.
thought probable in London that the They may have been taken prisoner Holland. They are expected to arrive
LONDON, Apr. 12 (Reuter)-The The rest of Southern Norway in Several German trawlers have al- the Baltic mine barrage into Kattegat depth charges,
explosions resulted from the use of or may be roving over the hills,
on Sunday morning.
Board of Trade has made an order held by Norwegians. ready been captured. One of them is as "the Morne" of this war.
It has been conjectured that their
prohibiting the exportation, except "The Germans have occupied the Friesland which was taken into a
Turn For The Better Expected appearance ashore may have account. Stock Exchange Is under licence, of all goods to Den- Narvik, but otherwise the Norwegians, north-eastern Scottish port 'yester- tint when the prospect was Indeed "Reuter's" diplomatic correspondent troops had landed at Narvik.
LONDON, Apr. 12 Reutered for incorrect reports that British
The "Handels Tidninggen" writes
..
Quietly Firm
Gneisenau Again Reported Sunk
mark, Eathonia, Finland, Latvis,hold the entire north.” day by a prize crew. Its cargo of black, the Briush Fleet's quality of learns in authoritative quarters that
and Lithuania, Norway, Sweden 760 boxes of fish is now being sold in attack was as strong as in the Lme if the British blockade can continue
Russian ports on tho. Hattie and the town market
| Arelle sens in view of the uncertaint- Mr. E. C. Luscombe has been ap- of Nelson.
LONDON, Apr. 12 (Reuter)-On lea in the military and pollical zitu-' Sweden's Admiration
"For
successfully to limit the flow of Ger-pointed to be a member of the Com- the Stock Exchange to-day, despite ation existing there. the second time destiny man reinforcements, the situation in mities to administer the Mercantile the usual week-end reluctance to knocks at Sweden's door. STOCKHOLM, Apr, 12 (Reuter)—are confident of the ability of Brita'n the better.
While we Norway may soon take a turn for Marine Assistance Fund of Hongkong extend commitments, the market re- Admiration of the British Fleet's and France to deal with the affair
Apr. 13 (Reuter)-Hund! STOCKHOLM, Apr. 12 (Reuter). vlcc Mr. H. W. E. Heath. Nothing is yet revealed regarding
mained quietly firm. Prices closed a Vishnu Kumath, the General Secre- A radio broadcast of a Norwegian achievements on the Norwegian coast without our help, we don't think the nature or degree of Allied help,
fraction tower but this was due only tory of the All India forward block communique Issued to-day states that is voiced in newspapers, which des Sweden can regain her posillon by but there can be no doubt that it is been appointed to be an Examiner of not to any selling pressure.
Sub-Inspector R. R. McEwen hos to a lack of sustained support and of which Subhas Chandra Bose'l the cribe the action in breaking through cowardly concessions."
German battleship Gnelse ou | coming.
leader, was arrested to-day under the of 20.000 tons has been sunk in Dalo Weights and Measures.
Wall Street was steady..
Flord.
Bombay,
Defence of India Act.