Evening star., 1940-04-14

Cmclency, NaZ forces IN Simultaneous,
swift strokes requiring
1uesdoys only few hours of cli-
Blitzkriea mactic action. had con-
quered one nation
Denmark in toto and had taken phy-
sical possession Of several important
seaports strung strategically along hum
dreds Of miles of Norwegian coastiine.
Late week recapitulations showed less
than a dozen casualties in unresisted
German occupation Of Denmark. So
smoothly was "protectorate" accom-
plished that except for one-day "holi-
day" there was little Of unusual about
Danish life in hours Immediately follow
Ing coup. Adjacent to Germany proper
and with unfortified frontier, Denmark
presented little complication to Teutonic
tlair for organized effort.
: But from Norwegian action arose re-
sistance, formal entry Of another nation
into today's war-and questioning on
how Nad forces had slipped 50 easily
by allied blockade patrol.
Far northward along Norwegian coast
Is Narvik, ore port over which much
Of German shipments
Capture had been streaming In
az Norvik recent weeks and around
which British minelayers
repeatedly had just sown heavy mine
field. From closest Nal naval base it
is several days sailing. Yet on Tuesday
It was In German hands, occupied by
troops landed from NaZi ships.
Southwark, but on exposed westerly
coast are Trondhein, Bergen, Stavanger,
Kr!stiansand-all taken over by Nazi
landing parties in those early Tuesday
hours Only where defense was wholly
in hands Of Norwegians themselves, at
Oslo, was there any delay to German
success. Courageously, shore batteries
raked Nazi squadron entering Oslo Fjord,
succeeded in driving two warships, TO-
000-ton cruiser Bluecher and 6,0o0-ton
cruiser karlsruhe, to destruction, but
falling finally under assaults by landing
parties.
Norway's King and other leaders evac-
uated capital city, moved first to Hamar,
later to Elverum, near
Government Swedish o n t l e r {.
In FIioht Promptly, government
made its decision to fight,
not negotiate supinely, with German ag-
erosion. Cheering was allied decision
'sto extend their full aid to Norway and
TO fight the war in full association with
them"
Except for her raw materials, her
merchant marine and her defensively
suited terrain, Norway's contribution to
allied cause is likely to be small. At
most, her armed forces do not exceed
l35, 600 men, her plane strength hardly
100, and her naval complement in neigh
borhood Of four coast defense battle
ships, eight destroyers, nine submarines
and some smaller craft. Two Of largest
naval vessels were lost in initial German
action at Narvik; several of planes were
reported downed at Oslo.
Apparently made suddenly aware that
they must 20 "all out" in actual combat
If Nazi victories are to
British Navy be ended, British finally
Ia Rescua moved their sea power
into action. Through en-
suing days there came welter Of confus-
Ing, conflicting and confounding reports
mostly about engagements at sea. Many
lacked confirmation and subsequently
have been denied or abandoned; some
have persisted to point Of being accepta-
bic or at least worthy Of noting In sum-
mary Of week.
One Of earlier reports of counter-ac-
ton by British craft involved five de-
stroyers which engaged Na1 fleet Of
six in Narvik Fjord. From both Berlin
and London came word that two Of
Hritishers had been destroyed, two others
damaged. one untouched. One Of the
casualties was the Hardy. beached ma-
Ger concentrated fire of Nad ships and
u snoEe guns; second was the Hunter. Ber-
mace no mention Of German losses
e tnis clash, but London claimed one
sa vessel torpedoed, three others Hit
naro and left burning,