Evening star., 1940-05-01

States Ambassador William
Phillips was understood today
to have been assured by Pre-
mier MuSsolini that no war
move is contemplated by Italy
at present.
Earlier Italian story on
page A-4J
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 1.-The War
Office announced today that British
troops withdrew to prepared posi-
tons in the important Dombas
area, 100 miles south of Trondheim,
after stubbornly resisting strong
German attacks.
The communique. issued after a
military spokesman had described
the position of British forces in
Central Norwal as Dangerous and
very obscure said, in full:
"At Narvlk (Arctic ore port) areas
occupied by allied forces have been
extended and operations are con-
tinuing satisfactorily.
In the Namsos area Central
Norway, north of Trondheim the
situation at the front remains un-
changed.
I'm the Dombas area our troops.
after stubborn resistance in the
face of strong enemy attacks, with
drew to prepared positions.
Storen Reported Retaken
Unconfrmed reports from Stock
holm said Norwegian forces had re-
occupied Storen, vital railroad Juno
ton IS miles south of Trondheim
possibly after German vanguards
had abandoned it.
Similar advices said Roros, so
miles farther southeast on the rail-
road from Oslo. also had been re-
entered by the Norwegians.
The German Withdrawals. how
ever, were said to have been in line
with the Nazi tactics of striking
with lightning speed to smash allied
communications and then of waiting
for relnmorcementS before taking
firm hold of advanced positions.
Efforts to relieve the allied forces
OF the center continued, while the
British air force struck savagely at
three German air bases in Scan
dinavia. p!
The spokesman admitted 1t was;
~quite possible" that Dombas and
Storen, vital railway functions in
the Trondheim theater of war. had
been taken by the Germans as re-
ported in Berlin yesterday.
Fresh Troops Landed.
Indications that the British were
seeking to relieve the pressure on
their forces in Norway was seen in
a War Office announcement last
night that fresh troops had been
landed.
The military spokesman declined
to speculate on Norwegian develop
ments. declaring that speculation at
this stage may mean the loss of
mems lives
He said that the situation at
Namsos and Steinkjer, north of Ger
man-held Trondheim, was good"
and that the allied forces were
moving closer to Narvik, Nazi-oc-
cupied ore port in Far Northern
Norway.
The Air Ministry said seven Brit
1sh bombers we're lost in raids on
German alrdromes at Stavanger. on
the Southwestern coast of Norway
on Fornebu, near the German-oc-
cupled capital, Oslo, and on Aalborg,
Denmark. but declared three Ger
man planes were shot down and
heavy damage" was inflicted on
the three airfields.
Nazi Gains Not Discounted.
Confronted with repeated German
reports of successes in Norway,
there was no attempt by Britain's
military spokesman to discount the
Nazi announcement that German
forces in Oslo and Trondheim had
joined hands.
However, he pointed out that I'VE
MnSt remember that what with de-
ntceions and bombing German
communications will not be easy."
He said that if only small parties
Of Germans had made contact this
docs not mean there is a constant
flow of men and material
Prime Minister Chamberlain in
formed the House of Commons that
he would make statement on the
Norwegian situation tomorrow.
Mr.. Chamberlain was believed to
have given King George VI con-
f1dential account of the war in an
audience last evening before the
King and Queen Elizabeth left for
Lancashire. There was no imme-
diate indication that the consulta-
ton with the King implied any min
tsterial changes.
Liberal Attacks Chamberlain.
An attack on Mr.. Chamberlain last
night by Sir Archibald Sinclair,
Liberal leader, brought into the
open rumbling criticism. especially
among Laborlte members of Parlia-
ment, on the conduct of the war
Speaking at Glasgow, he warned
that the government must adopt
vigorous measures in Norway or Eu-
ropes remaining neutrals would hop
on the German bandwagon.
Sir Archibald was absent Monday
when Mr.. Chamberlain conferred
with Laborite Leaders Clement r.
Attlee and Arthur Greenwood after
which they deferred demands for an
immediate statement on the war
situation.
"1f the government muddles this
Norwegian campaign it will be for
Parliament to act effectively, fear
(See LONDON, Page A-5.)