Evening star., 1940-05-05
Military Observers
Stress importance
OF German Gains
Norvik Rus SCENT
Bearing on Situation,
They Believe
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

Germany's great victory in the
lightning Norwegian campaign closes
a definite and very important phase
of the European war, with tremen-
dous advantages accruing to the
Nazi cause. Her victory means that
she has gained not only new air
bases far closer to British vital CEN
ters, but also new submarine bases
and excellent sheltered harbors for
blockade runners or the launching
OF expeditionary forces.
Military experts here, although
unable to voice any ofhcial opinions
on the campaign, are not inclined
to minimize in any respect the tre-
mendous Importance to the Nazis Of
the Norwegian campaign. which,
they feel. attained completion, for
all practical purposes, with the
allied retreat from Aandalsnes and
Namsos.
The Narvik affair is an entirely
independent operation. with scant
bearing on the Norwegian situation
as a whole. There is little or no
incentive for the Germans to send
a sea expedition against Narvik or
to undertake a virtually impossible
overland expedition through Nor
way.
Soviet Move Hinted.
If a new German drive is under
taken to reinforce its isolated Mar
vik garrison. military observers be-
lieve. it is likely to come through
Sweden and it is not at all out of
the picture for Soviet Russia to
resume Scandinavian operations in
this event. The occupation OF
Northern Norway by a Red army
might be welcomed by the Germans
rather than opposed, it is felt.
Nazi Germany today holds all OF
Norway which is of any Importance
to her at all with the single excep-
ton of Narvik, and even Narvik
ceases to be of much Importance if
Swedish iron ore, which has in the
past been sent by rail to Narvik for
shipment, can be sent to Germany
by another route. There is not much
doubt this can be arranged.
In the better than half OF Nor
way which Germany now occupies
are concentrated six-sevenths of the
population and virtually all of the
industries and resources of the
country.
Close Air Bases.
Germany has won air bases far
closer to British shipping and naval
bases than she ever has possessed.
So close are these bases that. for the
first time, it should be possible for
the Nazis to send out bombing flights
against the British and Scotch coasts
under the convoy of pursuit air
planes, a fact of such inestimable
Importance that it may change the
whole character of the air raids
against England. With pursuit to
neutralize air opposition and low
flying attack to take out" anti-air-
craft defenses. it should be possible
for the Germans to stage far more
powerful, accurate and deadly air
raids on England than any which
have occurred since the war began
eight months ago. it is argued
Establishment of submarine bases
In Norway's excellent, protected har-
bors would mean a tremendous ad-
vantage for the Nazi submarine force
in the North Sea. Such bases are
much closer to sea lanes and British
naval bases than the present Ger
man submarine bases. Such a saw
ing in distance may be expected to
contribute greatly to the efficiency
Of the German submarines, since it
reduces the time spent in travel
between bases and combat stations
increases efficiency, and permits the
same number of submersibles to
remain longer on patrol.
The same Norwegian ports provide
shelters in which German shipping
or the shipping of German allies
might hide until assured by air
observation that the seas are clear