Disastrous though the Norwegian campaign was from many points of
view, it is likely to bear belated but rather important fruit before long. As everyone knows, the iron-ore, indis- pensable to Germany, from the north of Sweden is at normal times shipped mainly from the Swedish port of Lulea during the summer, and solely from the Norwegian port of Narvik during the winter. The date when Lulea becomes ice-bound varies to some extent according to whether it is a hard or mild winter ; the middle of November is about the average. In a fortnight or so therefore the Germans, though they will no doubt use ice-breakers at Lulea till the last moment, will be driven back on Narvik—or would be if there were a Narvik to be driven back on. In fact the port itself, and the railway leading to it from the iron-fields, were so completely smashed up by the British attacks of last spring that there seems no present likelihood of half an ounce of ore being shipped that way. And if a likelihood did emerge the Navy and the R.A.F. between them would know how to deal with it.
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