Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-05-02
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page y

the coast of Norway, almost wholly
controlled by the Germans. How true
it is that the Germans have been
destroying Is transport vessels and
three British warships within per-
iod of IL hours, one cannot know now,
but the rumor itself emphasizes the
terrific handicap which the allies are
facing.
In London a great deal of bitter
criticism has been hurled against the
Chamberlain government; it is
charged with being too slow, too
cumbersome, too ineffective and too
miserably equipped for warfare in
Norway. There is said to be pos
sibility of another shakeup in the
British government, and parts of the
daily press openly challenge the gov
eminent by saying that it had better
either redouble its efforts or quit alto
gether.
Allegations.
A few days ago an official Berlin
announcement said that Joachim Won
Ribbentrop, German foreign minister,
on the following day would make a
Every important" announcement be-
fore the diplomatic corps and the for
eign correspondents in the German
capital. Everybody was keyed up,
everybody was tense, for the solemn
elaborateness with which the an
nouncement was made, gave distinct
hint that news of first-rate signi-
ficance would be forthcoming.
After it was all over, everybody felt
like flat tire. For the widely
heralded announcement was merely
a restatement of allegations formerly
made to the effect that Great Britain
had made plans to invade and occupy
Norway many days before Germany
acted. The plans came to nothing
only because Germany was one jump
ahead, Won Ribbentrop said. He
added that the British plan had been
aided, abetted and approved by the
Norwegian government, and that Ger
many had no choice. 1t had to act
in order to protect Norway against
the prospective British and French
invaders!
DenialS.
Instantly, there were denials. In
London the Won Ribbentrop accuSa-
ton was promptly stigmatized as
''pernicious lying" 'perversion of the
TRUTH and SO on.
And from Stockholm came state
ment issued by c. j. Hambro, presi-
dent of the parliament of Norway,
who said that not only did Won Rib
bentrop deliberately lie, but that the
Norwegian government had in its
possession evidence which proved that
the Germans had planned their occu-
patton of Norway several months ago.
One strange thing in this connection
Mr.. Hambro pointed out, and that
was that the Norwegian legation in
Berlin and the allied governments
had knowledge of the German in
vasion plans and did not commun-
icate them to the government in Oslo.
This is something that apparently
needs further and later Qualification.
Life in Denmark.
Denmark is not, like Norway, at
war with Germany-it is placed I'M
der the protection" of Germany!
There are ever so many reports to
the effect that the German military
administration has suspended some
of the constitutional prerogatives of
the Danish people; has diverted the
expectation of agricultural products
to Germany; has torn down statues
and groups in the streets and public
places of Copenhagen and sent the
metal to Germany where it is to be
converted into guns and shells; has
compelled every single community in
Denmark to establish a blackout
every evening from until in the
morning, and has restricted vehicular
and pedestrian traffic to minimum.
Newspapers have come through
from occupied Denmark until four
days after the beginning of the occu-
patton; most of the contents are off,
cial-German-dictated or German
approved-Statement proclamations
and announcements, and some very
meager descriptions of the actual in
vasion are given, together with the
names of those Danes who fell in
action when they tried to hinder Ger
man progress. In few cases orders
from the military German command
are printed in both the German and
the Danish language.
Letter mail from Copenhagen of
April 12-three days after the in
vasion-has been received in this
country without having been opened
and examined by the German or any
other censor. 1t is understood that
such mail is routed through Germany