Imperial Valley press., 1940-04-26
Allies Bring Up
Troops TO Halt
Fl uzi BIitzkrieQ

Wcgian troops in the TrOndheim
area, it was said. and were sup
porting them to the full. But. it was
added, German troops were press
ing hard from the south, supported
by airplanes and using armorcd
fighting vehicles.
Admitting frankly that British
forces were having a difficult time
in Norway, military spokesman
said that Britain was determined
to 20 on with the job and see it
through"
The spokesman said that the
sudden German attack on Norway
in disregard of international law"
gave the Germans the initial ad-
vantage. Britain being III willing to
use methods Of treachery, the
spokesman said, lost the first trick"
and had to send to Norway at once
these troops who were available.
British forces we're compelled to
use poor facilities to make imDro~
Viscd landings. the spokesman said.
and in their first landings. Wcrc
able to take only what weapons
they could carry by hand.
Official and other news from
Norway indicated that Allies and
Germans were now in position for
finish fights on two fronts with the
control of mid-NorWay at stake.
Norwegian troops in the Oesterdal
Valley, over by the Swedish frontier.
were reported to have dynamitod
and blocked the valley highway in
order to halt the Germans in tho
t2ocroS area. Bad weather wa be-
lievcd to have halted activities at
NarVik. in the north.
1t was indicated that French
troops might soon reach the British
column in the Steinkjer zone
The British advance guard held
the village of Maere (MeirD, five
miles south of Steinkjer on the
Nam5oS- -Trondheim front. and the
Germans were reported digging in
either at Steinkjer or, as last re-
ports said, Just north of il.
Either side. with reinfOrcements
would be able TO cut the other off
completely from its base and wipe
it out
On the Roeros front NorWegians
held the foothills to the north of
Rooros while the Germans forti-
fled themselves just 10 the south
Tho NorWegians awaited Allied re-
Inducements in hope of stopping a
determined German drive to effect
contact between its RoerOS column
advancing from Oslo, and it.
Trondhcim forces.
The situation at Steinkicr, rough
" midway between the Allied base
al Nam&oS and the German base at
Trondhcim had been clarified. But
the issue vas Still in doubt.
British commanders had sent q
light column, with only such light
weapons as fast moving force
could carry. IN an emergency ad-
vance to stop Germans advancing
north from Trondheim.
It was known that the column
must expect losses. admiralty and
war office sources said, and it Suf-
fcrcd them. But, it was added. tn
advance column had held strong
German force for four Vitally need
I'd days and was still in the fight
Heavy SNOW had impedCd Bri
tiSh advance from the D9mbaaS
base, south of Trondhcm, to tho
Ocstcrdal Valley to aid the Nor
Wcpians holding a line just north
of ROcrOS.
But here also the N0rWeglanS
were reported t0 have stopped the
Germans if only temporarily in
their ATTEMPT to Join with TN"
Trondhcim forces.
There had been reports abroaG
that there were 1900 men in tho
Steinkjer advance column and that
they had been cut to pieces by the
Germans.
Admiralty and war office sources
said first that there were no where
near 1900 men in the column; sec
Cndly that the fact that the Ger
mans were even now fOrtifyinG
themselves in or north of Steinkj2r
was evidence that the British col
umn had accomplished a mission
which required resolution to fight |