CENTRAL FRENCH AUTHORITY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23966, 5 June 1943, Page 5

CENTRAL FRENCH AUTHORITY

Giraud and de Gaulle As Presidents FORMATION IN ALGIERS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 3. “A French Committee of National Liberation has been constituted," said the Algiers radio to-day, quoting a special communique issued after to-day’s discussions between General Giraud and General de Gaulle. “The committee,” the communique continues, "at present consists of seven—General Giraud and General de Gaulle as presidents, with General Georges, General Gatroux, M. Rene Massigli, M. Andre Philip, and M. Jean Monnet. Two other members will be elected later. “General Catroux has been appointed Governor-General of Algeria and Commissioner for the Co-ordin-ation of Moslem Affairs. General Bourquet has been appointed Commander of the Air Forces in North and West Africa in place of General Mendigal, who has been relieved of his command. “The Committee of National Liberation is the central French authority. It directs the French war effort in all forms everywhere. It- assumes the care of and defence of all French interests in the world. It assumes power over all territories outside the power of the enemy and OA*er all the land, sea, and air forces which so far have been placed under the French National Committee or the civilian and military forces of General Giraud. All measures necessary to bring about a fusion of these two bodies will be taken immediately. A Provisional Government “In accordance with letters exchanged between General Giraud and General de Gaulle, the committee will place its powers in the hands of a provisional government, which will be constituted according to the laws of the republic, as soon as the liberation of metropolitan France permits, and at the latest when the total liberation of France is achieved. “The committee will pursue, in close collaboration with all the Allies, the common struggle for the complete liberation of France and Allied territories until final vcitory over all the enemy powers is won. “The committee solemnly undertakes to restore all French liberties, the laws of the Republic, and the Republican regime by entirely destroying the regime of arbitrary and personal power which to-day has been imposed on France. “The committee calls upon all Frenchmen to follow it in order that France may, through the struggle for victory, once more regain her liberty, greatness, and traditional place among the great Allied nations, and that at the peace negotiations she may be able to make her contribution to the counsels of the United Nations which will determine conditions in Europe and the world after the war.” General de Gaulle told correspondents that he was happy that French unity had been achieved and that the French Empire was whole-heartedly behind the Allies. The French and Allied war efforts were united for the common cause. He had never felt more strongly, said General de Gaulle, that the sacred interests of France were linked with those of the Allies. To Preside in Turn Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says: “General Giraud and General de Gaulle will be joint heeds of the committee, presiding in turn. General Georges and M, Monnet are the members selected by General Giraud. M. Massigli and M. Philip were selected by General de Gaulle. General Giraud and General de Gaulle both accepted General Catroux. General de Gaulle, on behalf of the Fighting French, emphasised his satisfaction at the unity which had been realised.” The Algiers correspondent of the Associated Press says that political quarters say that M. Gabriel Pauaux, formerly French High Commissioner in Syria and Lebanon, will succeed General Nogues as Resident-General in Morocco. Reuter says that the agreement still does not solve the question of General Giraud’s status as Commander-in-Chief, as there is the problem of the two existing armies.

THE WAR AGAINST U-BOATS

TURNING POINT IN MAY (Rec. 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, June 4. “We can look back on May as being the turning point in this long-drawn battle against U-boats,” says the naval correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” “Detailed checks of all information available in London and Washington confirm that more than 30 U-boats were sunk in the Atlantic by sea and air attack, in May. On the basis of three to one ratio of those damaged to those sunk maintained in the last war. this means that the Axis has been denied the use of another 90 U-boats undergoing repair. “The figures for May represent an advance of one-third on the average kills for December, January, and February. This vital third has for the first time in this war made the rate of destruction higher than that of German construction.” The correspondent points out that it is the rate of sinkings, not the total, which makes the figures for May important, because the Germans are far from short of U-boats, and can concentrate large packs on junctions of our sea lines at an • time. Another factor is the destruction'by the Royal Air Force of hulls under assembly, which reduced the German building programme by nearly one-third. This side of the battle has prevented Germany from increasing her building programme since the beginning of the year as she intended. Her production still stands at 30 U-boats a month. The real battle remains in the Atlantic, where the work of escort carriers, several of which are now commissioned, cannot be overlooked.” SUNDERLAND DRIVES OFF ATTACKERS BATTLE OVER BAY OF BISCAY (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, June 3. Attacked by eight Junkers 88’s over the Bay of Biscay, a Royal Australian Air Force Sunderland scored hits on all eight enemy aeroplanes, shooting down three and probably a fourth. The Sunderland was set on fire in this encounter, but with one member of the crew dead and four, including himself, injured, the captain. Flight Lieutenant Colin Walker, of Brisbane, brought the aeroplane back nearly 300 miles over sea and landed in the west of England at midnight on Wednesday. Three of the enemy aeroplanes attacked from either side of the Sunderland. and two on the flying-boat’s tail. Flight Lieutenant Walker said the first shells from the port attacker set fire to the port outer engine. “We extinguished it, but another shell broke the compass in front of me and set the alcohol ablaze,” he said, “The alcohol ran over the bridge and set fire to my trousers. My first pilot’s clothing was also set on fire, but we quelled the flames with a fire extinguisher. “The Junkers made about 20 separate attacks, but our midship gunner shot down two of the attackers. Shells seemed to be spattering all over the place, and shrapnel wounded our navigator. The fighters’ fire damaged the hydraulic system in the rear turret and peppered the rudder and elevator. A shell hit the galley gunner, who died 20 minutes later. “The tail gunner, who had recovered consciousness from his previous shock, in conjunction with the midship gunners, bagged the third victim. The five remaining fighters continued to attack the Sunderland’s nose, and another Junkers was set on fire. We scored hits on all of them during the action.