The German reports of naval and air activity in connection with
 these operations has reached a new high in mendacity for this war
 we definitely know. In spite of all the extravagant German statements
 it was authoritatively stated as of the 20th that the British losses
 were one submarine and four destroyers, and this is confirmed as of the 
 23rd by Lord Hankey speaking in the House of Lords. Of course,  in
 addition there have been vessels damaged, viz, one cruiser, two 
 destroyers (able to return to their bases) and the battleships RENOWN
 and RODNEY hit "but not seriously damaged", four other destroyers
 damaged, also three cruisers by bomb splinters. As you know, the
 Germans admit the loss of the BLUECHER (l0,000 tons) KARLSRUHE (6,000
 tons) and various destroyers whether admitted or not numbering about
 ten; also, there are probably German losses of one or two other 6,000
 ton cruisers, one and probably more submarines, eleven or more transports
 aud naval auxiliaries with considerable additions of German merchant
 type vessels which .may or may not have been transports or supply ships
 I believe you are familiar with the case of the British cruiser SUFFOLK 
 subjected to thirty-three dive bombing attacks, eighty-two bombs droppcd,
 hit once, returned to Scapa under her own power, but we now know, then
 had to be beached.
 
       The British made an authorizod statement as of the 20th, and it
 appears to be repeated in London dispatch of the 23rd, that up to date
 the British had lost no transports nor a single life in connection with
 their landing operations. From this brief survey two things are
 evident, viz, the Germans have paid much the greater price so. far,
 and their statements as to enemy losses must be heavily discounted.
 
       I can tell you definitely from Alan Kirk's reports that the British 
 naval staff are delighted that the Germans have gone into Norway in
 this way as the British are confident they can bottle up and destroy
 any German ships in Norwegian ports which, incidentally, they have made
 good progress in demonstrating when we consider Narvik. There is a
 report that a Duetchland (l0,000 tons) is aground in one of the Norway
 fjords.
 
       While it is pobably true that the air preponderance in Norway lies
 with  the Germans, that does not appear to be a decisive factor. Also,
 the British air raids of Stavangar, Aalborg airport in northern Denmark
 and even the Oslo air bases show the British offensive still capable 
 of acting.
 
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