Evening star., 1940-05-03
Germany Prepared
For Counter-Drive
In Mediterranean
Allies Are Defied to Find
Success Outside Norwuy
As Nozis Press 'Mop-up'
By LOUIS p. LOCHNER,

Associated Press Forsign Correspondent.
BERLIN, May 3.-Foreign once
quarters, proclaiming the allied
withdrawal from Andalsnes "a ca
tastrophic defeat, today defied the
British to find success elsewhere"
while Adolf Hitler suddenly broke
his silence to reiterate that the war
was a fight for existence for the
Germans.
Speaking before 5000 army and
air force officers and leaders Of the
SS, black-shirted Elite Guard in
Berlin's Sportspalast said the con-
f1ict Is "a fight for being, or not Of
being, Of the German people"
Foreign ONCE quarters asserted
that Prime Minister Chamberlain,
forced to look to other fields to
wipe out the stain Of the Norwegian
defeat, was threatening action in
the Mediterranean, but come what
may, Chamberlain will find Ger
many prepared for counter blow" I"
Rapid Progress in Cleanup.
The German high command con-
currently announced rapid progress
of the German forces in Norway
In the cleanup against isolated"
resistance, acknowledged that the
allies were squeezing the Nazi gar
rison at Narvik, in the far north,
and summarized claims of new
blows against allied sea power. Nor
wegian troops in Western Norway
are being demobilized, the high
command said.
DNB reported Increased fighting
activity In the Narvik region" by the
British and asserted this obviously
was aimed at wiping out the un-
favorable impression created by
their withdrawal from Andalsnes,
south Of Trondheim.
Heavy British Bombardment.
The agency said, however, that
the British had not been successful
in the far north. 1t reported that
German patrols frustrated all ef-
forts of the British, aided by heavy
bombardment by their naval forces,
to gain ground. The main burden
of the fighting, it said, had been
loaded upon Norwegian units.
Germany's possession of Andals-
mes after the allied withdrawal so
consolidated her position, DNB said,
that "the situation in Western and
Southern Norway can generally be
designated as pacified."
In the war at sea the high COM
mand said the navy destroyed two
submarines in the Skagerrak, while
warplanes on May l scored hits on
at least one aircraft carrier, and pos
sibly two, and one destroyer and on
May 2 severely damaged" cruiser
attacked another cruiser and safik
a transport ship.
135 Ships Claimed.
DNB, official German news
agency. reported that 135 units of
the British fleet had been put out
of action since April 9, the day Ger
many invaded Norway.
Basing its claim on official re-
ports of the high command, the
agency said ga ships either were
sunk or set afire and II were dam
aged.
Prime Minister Chamberlain re-
ported yesterday that British naval
losses in the Norwegian campaign
were four destroyers, three subma-
rines, one sloop and five trawlers
sunk and five other warships dam
aged by air attack. He added that
one store ship had been torpedoed
and sunk.
Claim 23 Transports Destroyed.
The DNB compilation listed %
British troop transports as sunk or
set on fire and 80 as damaged. Most
of these losses occurred after April
%, it said. Seven battleships were
listed as damaged up to April %.
Figures, given for ships sunk or
set on fire since April 8 were: Cruis..
ers, 9; destroyers, 9; submarines, %:
troop transports, %, and miscel-
laneous, l.
Ships severely damaged: Battle
ships, 7; cruisers, IA: destroyers, 9;
alrplane carriers, 3, and trans
ports, 38.
OF these it claimed that 43 cases
OF damage occurred after April %.
The seven battleships were reported
damaged between April 9 and q.
Affirming Germany's readiness
for any British counter blow as a
result Of the Norwegian defeat, For
elgn Of1ce circles said:
We ask Chamberlain before the
world: Who is the next victim of