Motives of Landings Near Trondheim And Subsequent Withdrawal Explained 1HE landing of Allied troops in the Trondheim region was admittedly a risky business but was necessary in order to ensure unified Norwegian resistance to the German invasion, declared Mr, Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister, in opening the momentous debate on the Government's policy in regard to the Norwegian campaign, in the House of Commons on the afternoon of May 7, The House was packed, and more than once the Speaker had] to check the exuberance of Opposition members in interrupting the Prime Minister.
Mr. Chamberlain admitted that the British)
Government were fully aware of the dangers of the course they' decided to adopt. But, he ma infamed, the advantages which might have been gained, including the encouragement to the, Norwegian forces, and the slowing up of the German occupation, of southern Norway, were considered to be worth it.
The Allies, he said, had not been shaken by the reverses suffered, which were due to the lack of air facilities. He praised in high terms the courage and resource of the troops and their commanders in the withdrawal operations, stating that no losses were suffered. until the troops-shi ips bearing the withdrawn forces were well out to sea, Then these losses were only one Briton and one Frenchman, except for of the British and French navies, the destroyers Afridi and Bison, respectively.
London, May 7.
"On Thursday last, 1 stated 1 could only give an incomplete account of operations, anda further. statement would be' made this week. when Boped to give a fuller story," Tale intimated that T was obliged to im= pose certain reticence an. myself to vold saying anything involving sie {hour troops. Since then, members realized that while our forees have been withdrawn from Andalsnes, we 'UM had to withdraw from Namsos, trid T'was. extremely anxious not to give any hint of an operation which vas botind to be even more dangerous than the withdrawal from Andalsnes both on account of the large number at men to be taken off, and because it would be possible for" the Germ to bring near the whole force of their bombers."
Tribute to Servicemen Mr. Chamberlain paid tribute "the really' remarkable skill of our nova) and military forces, who mana to effect the withdrawal in. the Course of a single short day, witha Suffering any loss in the operation. (cheers).
The danger they were running, he suid, was illustrated by the fact that early the following morning, the Germans discovered that troops were returning to their ships and gent force of some 50. bombers. "Con sidering that this convoy wax outside the range of oUF fighters and had to depend, therefore, solely on the antiiireraft fire of ships, 1 think we may 'Count ourselves fortunate that we did not Jose more than one British and tone French destroyer, the Afridi and the Bison. "By this' time, the men from Namisos ahd Andalsnes are back again, and the campaign in southern Norway is at an end.
"The troops carried out their task with " magaifieent gallantry" loud cheers), adding still further to the great traditions of the Service. In hard fighting, solid endurance and quick and skilful movement, exposed Yo superior forces and superior equip= ment, they showed themselves, man for than, superior to their fo Admiration for RAW, must also sny a word of pride and admiration for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, who had eon Uinually dangerous ad dificult tasks and performed great achievements, ed, "I do not wish to extenuate anything but, at the same time, 1 hope we shall hot exaggerate the effect oF Importance of the check we have re= ceived.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.