Evening star., 1940-04-23
Naval Battle Raging in Skagerrak>
Fierce Fighting to North Of Oslo;
SWedes Fear Invasion Is Imminent
British Meet Nuzis
Near Trondheim,
Shell Nurvik
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM, April 23.-The
newspaper Allehanda reported
from the Swedish west coast
that two violent naval battles
were raging today in the Skag-
errak, with both surface and air
forces involved.
The thunder of cannonading, it
said, indicated the severest fighting
so far off the Swedish coast.
At least 10 destroyers raced past
the battle area with their guns
roaring, the newspaper said and dis
appeared within few minutes.
The newspaper said the battle
apparently began with an attack
on transport feet and that many
fighting planes were involved.
Warships Shell Narvik.
Attempts of the British-French al
lies to wrest the important Norwe-
gian ports of Narvik and Trondheim
from German hands appeared near
Ing a showdown, with the for
mer under bombardment from the
sea and the latter threatened with
encirclement by land.
Narvik's population took cover
at the British broadcast warning
that the city was to be shelled, and
British naval forces turned their
guns on the German garrison, SEEM
ingly isolated in the Arctic town.
-Four hundred miles to the south
q battle of major proportions ap-
peared to be brewing as British,
French and Norwegian troops. at
tempting to close. semi-circle
around Trondheim, engaged in a
widening series of engagements
with its Nazi defenders.
(The British war Office report
ed that sharp engagement"
was being fought north of Trond-
helm.
GA communique said:
corporations in Norway are pro-
ceeding in cooperation with the
Norwegian forces.
("In the south our troops, in
conjunction with the Norwegians,
are resisting enemy pressure.
cNorth Of Trondheim our
troops have been counter-at-
tackled. and a sharp encounter
ensued.'0
Parachute Troops Trapped.
Swedish newspaper correspondents
also asserted that the Germans had
dropped parachute troops at Dovre.
10 miles southeast of Dombas, in a
desperate and unsuccessful effort to
seize control of the railway.
These reports said the parachute
troops had been surrounded by Nor
wegian patrols, who killed or cap
tured the entire detachment. The
German prisoners, it was said, ex-
prssed surprise when told by the
Norwegians that British and French
troops were fighting in Norway.
The British apparently were clos
ing in rapidly on Trondheim from
their landing points at Andalnes,
100 miles to the south, and Namsos,
and equal distance to the north.
The main force of British troops
working out on Namsos was re-
ported to have reached Steinkjer, so
miles from Trondheim. Strong
British forces also were said to have
pushed northward from Andalsnes
to Storen, Is miles below Trondheim.
Landing Unsuccessful.
German destroyers stationed at
Trondheim were reported to have
landed troops in the northern part
of Trondheim Fjord in an attempt
to cut communications between the
British forces at Steinkjer and
Trondheim. The effort was said,
however, to have been unsuccessful.
Fierce fighting between allied and
German advance guards was re-
ported between Steinkjer and Stick
lestad, tiny village 20 miles to the
south, where contact was estab-
lished yesterday. The allied force
was said to include French troops
and Canadian ski detachmentS.
Sharp skirmishes also were re-
ported between covering forces at
Melhus, 20 miles south of Trond-
helm, and at several points further
east. Swedish observers believed
these engagements were the prelude
to battle of major proportions.
The fortress of Hegra, east OF
Trondheim on the railway connect
ing that port with the Swedish from
tier, was understood still to be in
Norwegian hands.
Swedish versions of the situation
at Narvik indicated the German
force there was virtually trapped
Combined British and Norwegian
forces there were said to have en-
circled the city by land, while the
British fleet controlled the sea ap-
proaches.