Evening star., 1940-04-18
Morse Poised
For Assault
On Trondheinl
Defenders Reported
Concentrated at
Steinkjor, on Fjord
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM, April 18.-Re-
ports reaching here from the
Norwegian frontier said today it
was only question of hours be-
fore a Norwegian attack will be
started against German positions
In the Trondheim district.
Swedish newspaper correspondents
said the Norwegians were concen-
trated at Steinkjar, on the inner part
of Trondheim Fjord, and at a rail-
road junction connecting with Nam
SOS, about 100 miles farther north on
the coast.
These reports said it was believed
the British had landed at Namsos,
which they called the Britons' best
base for sending reinforcements to
the Norwegians in the Trondheim
area.
Five German planes we're reported
destroyed in British = air raids on
German west coast positions yes
terday.
Nazis Closer to Sweden.
The German invaders of Norway
rolled closer to Sweden, who clamped
new restrictions on foreigners with
in her territory in hope of main
tanning her precarious neutrality.
Halden, close to the southern Nor
wegian-Swedish frontier, was cap
tured by the Germans. Other in
vading forces were threatening the
Fossum Notifications in the Mysen
neighborhood about so miles south
east of Oslo.
Although the Norwegian military
commander of the region, Gen.
Erichsen, crossed into Sweden, the
Fossum Notifications were still re-
plying to German attacks.
Norwegian military circles said the
1ortiflcation line, a row of concrete
forts was equipped to withstand a
long siege.
1,200 Germans Hold Halden.
Reports from Halden said a force
Of 200 Germans first occupied the
city and later were reinforced by
1000 more. Military restrictions
Immediately were imposed forbid
ding all citizens to leave the region.
With war at her doorstep, Sweden
barred foreigners from all harbor
and railway stations except when
necessary to their travels and from
all foctories unless they are EN-
ployes. Foreigners also were for
hidden to use private automobiles
or taxis in travelling between towns,
the only exception being made for
Norwegians, Danes and Firms, who
were in Sweden prior to January /.
The Germans strengthened their
positions in southern Norway while
in the north allied and Norwegian
forces battled for control of the
Narvik area. Foreign observers in
Stockholm were of the opinion that
the fighting for Narvik, where the
Germans had been pushed 10 miles
south OF the ore port, was secondary
and that Norway's fate would be
decided in the south.
Communications and highways
from the Narvik region southwark
are poor and 1t seemed probable the
allies would have to land expedition
ary forces elsewhere than at Mar
vik-perhaps Stavanger, Trond-
helm, or Bergen-in order to engage
the main German units.
The Germans were reported in
control of the railway eastward from
Trondheim to the Swedish frontier.
Pocketship Reported Grounded.
A Norwegian reaching Sweden
from Trondheim today reported the
German Pocket Battleship Luetzow,
formerly the Deutschland, was
ashore in Osjenfjord northeast of
Trondheim.
The Luetzow, 10,0OO-ton sistership
of the scuttled Admiral Graf Spec,
was renamed last October by the
Germans. who said the name
Deutschland was to be given an
other warship.
The newspaper Svenska Dagbladet
reported contingent of about 400
Germans, transported in tri-motored
bombers, had landed on the ice 6
miles from Namos, 125 miles north
OF Trondheim and terminus of the
railway from the south.
The newspapers special cores
pondent declared allied landing
forces must come quickly If their
task is not to be made much more