The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-29
HERE'S MORE ABOUT
The War in Europe
TARTS ON PAGE ONE


s T RTS ON PAGE ONE
sending secret instructions to theil
agents in Norway and Sweden. oil
to receive confidential reports or
German movements.
Meanwhile. the fighting in Nor.
way was inconclusiye, although the
Germans seemed at the moment
to have the advantage.
British sources said, accord
ing to n dispatch from Webb
Miller In London. that 'the
public must be prepared for
further allied Withdrawals In
mid-Norway before the allies
and Norwegian forces can
hope to gain the initiative"
Fighting centered in the Trondh-
jem region. on the west coast; in
the Gudbrands valley region in mid
Norway, south of Dombaas, and
in the Oester valley, near the
Swedish frontier. The Germans
appeared to be on the defensive
only around Narvik, in the far
north.
Artillery Active
There was unusual western front
activity. where a French outpost
west of the Vosges mountains SUI
fered heavy losses in a surprise
German attack. Artillery was I'M
usually active there and elsewhere
on the front. There was no indi-
cation, however. of any general
German attack.
"All lies. all lies Won Ribben-
trop said of French and British
government assertions that during
the Russo-Finnish war they wanted
to land troops in Scandinavia to
aid Finland. They wanted, he said,
to outflank Germany as part of
deliberately-planned campaign to
embroil neutrals on their side in
the war.
Serial Coming
Germany, he said, would publish
documents, some captured from
British troops in Norway, in serial
form, to give documentary proof"
that:
1. The allies long planned
to occupy Norway; 2. Norway
knew this; 5. Norway was
ready to enter the war on the
allied side; 4. The British plan
was frustrated only because
Germany interviewed at the last
hour.
Germany made its charges in a
perfectly timed series of proclama-
tons. communicates and state
ments.
First, came an announcement
that Adolf Hitler had made Joseph
Ter Bowen commissioner for Nor
wegian occupied territories, which
asserted that Norway through its
attitude "willed to create a state
of war between Norway and the
German reich"
Victories Claimed
Second. came a German high
command communique, laying
claim to German victories over the
British in fights in the Lilleham-
mer and Steinkjer sectors of Nor
way, in which, 1t was said, the Ger
mans took nearly 800 prisoners,
and with them "a great quantity of
politically and militarily important
British orders"
Third, came communique of
the official news agency, announc-
ing these documents would be put
before the public. These documents
showed there had been a plan for
a British expeditionary force in
Norway" before the German in
vasion; that the allied move on
Norway was under way three days
before the German occupation took
place and two days before Hitler
on April s gave German troops
their sailing orders.
Quotes Documents
Fourth. came Ribbentrop's state
ment to the diplomatic and news
paper corps.
Saying he based his charges d.
rectly on seized documents. Rib
bentrop reviewed the speeches.
statements. confidential talks of
allied leaders for weeks past in his
effort to prove that the allies mad
sought to embroil all Europe in
war, from Scandinavia to the
Balkans.
Implicitly. he answered sugges-
tons that Germany was planning
an invasion OF Sweden by saying
that in cotrast to Norway, Sweden
took an absolutely sincere view
Of its neutral functions and main
tanned true neutrality"