Evening star., 1943-08-29
Communications Cut
In Crisis; Cabinet
Declared Out
By the Associated Press.

~ oAOSAAAAob1N, ouliudy, mug.
29-King Christian III of Den
mark was reported today to have
threatened to abdicate if the
Danish government accepts a
German ultimatum placing the
kingdom under full Nazi military
control.
The ultimatum, brought back
from Berlin by German Minister
Werner Best, was said to have in
cluded provisions for a state of
siege, military tribunals empowered
to inf1ict the death penalty on sab
oteurs, ban on strikes, general
curfew, complete Nazi control of
the Danish press, and imposition of
a heavy fine on the city of Odense,
where the wave of rebellion origi-
mated.
Swedish-Danish telephone COM
munications were severed suddenly
last night-the usual Nazi tactic
when events of extraordinary i'm
portance are taking place. Travel
ers from Denmark said the govern
ment of Prime Minister Erik de
Scavenius already had resigned.
Unions Order General Strike.
Indications that the Danish peo-
pie were preparing to protest the
change in German policy were seen
IN an order of the Danish trade
unions ordering general strike to
begin today-an order which would
openly defy the reported ban on all
strikes contained in the new ulti-
matum.
cThree and half hours after
telephone service between Den
mark and Sweden was cut off
telegraphic communication be-
tween the two countries also was
suspended, the Swedish Motala
radio reported in a broadcast re-
corded by the Federal Com
munications Commission.)
Reports to the Swedish newspaper
Dagens Nyheter from Malmoe. a
city on the southern tip of Sweden
which is only Commute boat ride
from Denmark, said the travellers
also reported new rumors that the
Germans planned to intern King
Christian in Sorgenfri Castle near
Copenhagen.
Toll of Wounded Passes 200.
The Danish radio announced can
collation. Of Sundays athletic events.
The toll of wounded in recent riots
passed 200 today when it was dis
closed that 80 persons were injured
in the Copenhagen riots three days
ago. Scores of both Danes and Ger
mans also have been killed.
Strategically, Denmark is an i'm
portant cog in Germany's military
defenses. An internal revolt could
aid any Allied invasion of the coun-
try or Northern Germany, which is
the shortest land route to Berlin.
Denmark also is a major German
base for the transshipment of sup
plies to Norway.
1t is estimated the Germans now
have 10000 troops in Denmark.
Many signs pointed to 1ull mill
tary control, for the German army
already has taken over at least 10
cities and large contingents of Nazi
troops recently were rushed into
Copenhagen and Esbjerg.
Radio Gives No Hint of Events.
A political upheaval could mean
Best taking over on the German
pattern of rule in Czechoslovakia.
The Danish radio continued to
operate, but nothing in the eve
ning's news broadcast gave a hint
as to the new turn in German ef-
forts to curb the nation wide surge
OF sabotage and clashes between
Danes and occupation troops.
If the situation meant that Ger
man Gen. Hermann Won Hannecken
and his occupation army are about
to take over full military control
1t threatens to explode even more
violence by the Danes against the
Germans.
The Danes know full well that
Gen. Hannecken will take ruthless
measures In suppressing the revolt.
Rather than submit to that, they
may develop their sporadic out
breaks into an organized revolution.
Danes here in close touch with
their mother country said that feel
ing is even more bitter against
the Germans now than when they
took over Denmark in the sneak
attack of April 4, 1910.
A German ultimatum two weeks
ago demanding that saboteurs be
(See DENMARK, Page A-4.)