Evening star., 1940-04-24
All South Norway
From. 5tayanger 10
Oslo Held, Say Nazis
Three British PIones Shot
Down, Berlin Asserts,
In Bombing Attempt
By LOUIS p. LOCHNER.

-
BY LOUIS p. LOCHNER,
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
BERLIN, April 24.-Gerrnan au-
thorities announced today that all
Southern Norway between Oslo and
Stavanger was under control of the
German Army and that the Reich's
air and sea forces had taken heavy
toll Of the British Navy In the Nor
wegian campaign.
The high command reported that
three British planes had been shot
down southwest of Stavanger In an
attempt to bomb that port 200 miles
southwest of Oslo.
German reconnaissance planes,
the high command said, had dis
covered large units of the British
fleet approaching Narvik, Norway's
far northern port, apparently plan
ming more extensive troop landings
In that area. Austrian Alpine troops
were reported ready to fight them.
No New Smelling Of Narvik.
The German. high command an
nounced that allied naval forces at
Narvik had refrained from any new
shelling of the town or attempt to
land troops.
Nazi soldiers were said to have
occupied Steinkjer, approximately
so miles north Of Trondheim. DNB.
the official German news agency,
said this was an important strategic
move which would effectively block
British attempts to advance south
ward along the rail line from their
debarkation point at Namsos.
The communique also reported
that fighting had ceased in the
vicinity of Stavanger, where two
Norwegian regiments were said to
have been disarmed after short
hectic fight" Eighty Norwegians
were said to have been captured in
an engagement near Bergen.
Airport Raid Damage Denied.
Meanwhile, the high command
said, Nazi bombing planes continued
to interfere with British attempts
to reinforce their troops in Norway,
damaging two destroyers, two trans
ports and freighter. Objectives
on rail lines in the interior of
Norway also were reported bombed.
Authorized sources, commenting
on British versions of an air raid
on German-held airports near Oslo.
denied that any damage of military
importance had been done.
"As usual, they failed to hit the
mark" said one caustic commen-
tator. They dropped bombs on the
residential section of Oslo without,
however, doing much damage. The
Estonian Legation and one foreign
consulate was hit"
The same sources categorically de-
MED rumors that a naval battle had
taken place yesterday in the Skag-
errak.
Swede Protest Answered.
Sweden's protest against German
flights over Swedish territory has
been answered with an expression
OF regret that few cases of tres
passing could be established and that
in such cases the incursions were
unintentional.
Sweden disclosed Monday that it
had protested to Berlin against vio-
lations Of her frontiers by German
planes. which were described as
numerous and grave" and asked
assurance that there would be no
repetitions.
The protest was filed not long
after Swedish anti-aircraft batteries
had shot down . German plane
which flew over fortified island of
Goteborg, disregarding a warning
to veer of. Swedish newspapers
expressed belief that German recon-
naissance planes had been "delib-
erately" flying over Sweden's forti-
fed zones.
Negotiating in Stockholm.
Germany and Sweden are nego-
tiating in Stockholm for a settle
ment of economic problems which
have arisen for the Baltic Sea coun-
tries as result Of the Nazi occupa-
ton of Norway and Denmark, it
was reported.
Dienst aus Deutschland, authori-
tative news commentary, pointed out
the possibility and the necessity"
Of increased trade between Germany
and Sweden now that Scandinavia
has been cut OF from Britain and
France.
Authorized sources said the Swed-
ish press apologized today for yes
terday's structures on German war
methods in Scandinavia and that
the incident was considered closed.
The German general staff last
week was reported keeping an eye
on developments in Sweden to meet
effectively any possible signs of Brit
ish attempts to invade Sweden.
Ordinary travel to the Baltic States
was banned.