Evening star., 1940-04-26
Stowe Story Causes
Furor in London; May
Have Serious Results
War Office Is Criticized
For Treating Public
Like Children
BY WILLIAM H. STONEMAN,

ny WILLIAM H. SxONLN1fATN,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
LONDON, April 26-Yesterday's
dispatch from Leland Stowe de-
scribing the action between British
and German troops north of Trond-
helm, has caused flrst-class SEN
sation in London and may have
serious consequences.
Every newspaper in London this
morning prints an official COM
munique in which it is stated that
reports to the effect that Brit
ish force in Norway has been cut
to pieces and forced to withdraw
In disorder is a distortion Of the
facts. The account presumably re-
lates to an incident already re-
ferred to in recent communiques,"
it adds.
On Tuesday night the official
communique had stated that north
of Trondheim our troops had been
counter attacked and sharp en-
gagements ensued." On Wednes-
day night a further communique
stated that "in the Trondheim area
yesterdays communique was deliv-
cred by a considerable number OF
German troops landed from ships
in Trondheim Fjord. After some
sharp fighting our troops succeeded
in re-establishing the situation"
British Explanation.
rr,..4 ,,,,e &C ,,,,co &C tho British
War Office had told the British press
about operations in the Trondheim
area.
Not referring to the Stowe dis
patch, last nights communlque
adds: "The facts are that an ad-
vance detachment of larger force
pushed toward Trondheim from the
direction of Namsos. The Germans,
moving reinforcements inside Trond-
helm Fjord, threatened to cut on
the advance troops from their main
body. They, therefore, withdrew,
but were not followed by the enemy
who are now reported digging in at
the head of the ford. Our troops
suffered some losses"
This communique, of course, does
not refute the principal burden OF
Mr.. Stoves story, which, in fact,
referred to only two battallons, pat
emily an advance force.
Today it was made clear that no
aspersions were being cast on MI
Stoves integrity or veraclty. What
people here did take exception TO,
apparently, was the emphasis the
story placed on one isolated opera
ton which affected only several
hundred men. AS matter OF 1act'
the actual details of the battle DO
not seem available here and thus 1t
Is somewhat perplexing that Mr..
Stoves story should be labeled
"distortion of facts"
Guns Declared Now Landed.
It is readily admitted that the
first British troops which landed at
Namsos carried nothing but their
small arms and that it was impos-
sible to land big guns at the be-
ginning. It is also agreed that the
Germans were bound to have supe-
riority in the air. 1t is stated, now
ever. that guns have now been
landed.
Emphasis is placed on the fact
"the Germans landed by treachery
and were able to take possession
of the best strategic positions, While
the British who, of course, could not
use those methods, had to land
wherever they could"
Mr.. Stoves full story has not been
printed in London, although the
London Daily Telegraph, which has
the rights to the Chicago Daily News
Foreign Service, had the complete
COPY in time for publication and
this copy was finally passed for pub
lication after consultation in high
places.
Yet, practically every paper, ex-
cept the London Times, gives the
outline of his story, together with
the official communique branding it
as a distortion of facts" The Daily
Mail prints long verbatim excerpts
which it received from New York.
Interesting Treatment.
Highly interesting is the treatment
given Mr.. Stoves story by the
Daily Heralds diplomatic corre-
spondent, who, after calling it wild
exaggeration," goes on to repeat, in
somewhat milder terms, just what
Mr.. Stowe wrote.
In a sharp editorial the Daily
Herald criticizes the War Office for
the manner in which it has handled
news of the Norwegian expedition.
Nothing was said in the commu-
nique about the source of the alarm
ing rumors about Norway" it writes.
1.-THE Daily Herald, however, is able
to rescue its readers from the be-
wilderment in which the War Office
was content to leave them.
"The reports were cabled to the
United States by Leland Stowe, an
American journalist, stationed on
the Norwegian-Swedish frontier.
public Treated Like Children"
'It is to be presumed that by now
they have achieved wide publicity
in America and in other neutral
countries.
"It is also to be presumed that
they have been widely believed. And
1t may be taken for granted that a
great number of neutrals will be
more impressed by Stoves vivid re-
ports than by the War Offices dull
denial.
"If the War Office wants the
British and foreign public to see the
Norwegian campaign in proper per-
spective why does 1T wait to be
goaded into statement by some
body else's distortion Of facts?
TT must tell the truth promptly
and fully, withholding only such
facts as would be of strategic value
to the enemy So far, in the Nor
wegian campaign, the War Office
has grossly neglected its duty.
"It has treated the public like
children.