Evening star., 1940-04-18
BY ]. NORMAN LODGE,

by J. NOhMAN LODGE,
Associated Press Foreisn Correspondent.
VANNAS, Sweden, April l8.-
British marines and soldiers are
consolidating their foothold in
Northern Norway as Germans, driv-
ing Norwegian defense troops before
them, retreat to the south.
have just returned after a jour-
ney afoot through Norwegian from
tier areas which took me to the out
skirts of Naryik before I was ar
rested by British troops.
A show Of my passport gave me
my freedom-but that was short
lived. AS I started out in an effort
to tour the region to determine the
situation, I was arrested again and
turned over. to the Norwegian mill
tary authorities back of Narvik.
Because lacked visa on my
passport I was ordered back to the
border
was told that the British occu-
pied Narvik, the ore-shipping port,
and points north, south and east,
after debarking at Harstad, 80 miles
up the coast.
British at Elvegaard.
found British marines in possess
sion Of Elvegaard, 10 miles south Of
Narvik. They also have driven east
from Narvik some Is or 16 miles to
Bjorksden, only a short distance
from the Swedish frontier.
In between these points the Brit
Ism were established at Oyjord and
Gratanjen. They also were holding
Elvegaardsmoen, S miles north Of
Narvik, and Harstad. their main
point of debarkation, 80 miles farther
up the coast.
AS the Nazis retreated they drove
before them small units of the Nor
wegian Army, with whom they en-
gagged in series of skirmishes.
The Germans apparently were
careful to stay well west of the
Swedish frontier as they moved
southwark to avoid the danger of
inadvertently crossing the border
and being interned.
Stopped at Kiruna.
succeeded in making my way
into Norway with considerable diff
/ ficulty.
After 35-hour journey northward
from Stockholm on crowded, un-
comfortable train, reached the
Swedish iron mining town of Kiruna,
only to be told that could proceed
no farther.
Kiruna is about 10 miles from the
Norwegian frontier by the railroad,
which continues on to Narvik, q
matter of some 18 miles more.
found that all foreigners had
been ordered from Swedish border
areas, especially foreign journalists
with or without passes. Swedish
journalists apparently were per-
mitted to cross the frontier into
Norway at will. but when protested
that this was not exactly cricket,
Swedish captain said, Neither was
the invasion of Scandinavia" and
ordered me to return south.
There was nothing to do except
board train for the return trip to
Stockholm, but so miles south of
Kiruna slipped of at Gellivare, de-
termined to get across the border
somehow
BY Taxi to Border.
A taxi driver, unable to resist the
promise of bonus, finally agreed
to take a chance on driving me the
120 miles to the frontier. BY hiding
on the floor of the taxi now and then
I managed without incident to reach
the border mile north of Vassi-
jaure-Riksgransen, on the Narvik-
kiruna Railway, and stepped across
in midafternoon without benefit of
visa.
In a snowstorm, with snowflakes
that seemed as big as marshmal-
lows, I tramped Is miles or more to
the outskirts of Narvik, travelling by
wooded paths instead of the main
road.
AS I attempted to enter Narvik
I was arrested by British patrols,
but was released after displaying my
credentials.
My freedom was short-lved, how
ever. AS started out in the hope
OF visiting surrounding towns, I was
arrested again and turned over to
Norwegian military authorities, who
insisted that I must return to
Sweden because my passport bore
no visa.
During the trip back to the from