GOOD RESULTS IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 224, 19 June 1944, Page 5

GOOD RESULTS IN FRANCE

Sabotage Campaign LIBERATION ARMY OF INTERIOR (British Official Wireless.) (Received June 18, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, June 17. The magnitude of the part which the French resistance movement has taken in the present operations for the liberation of France is revealed in a special communique issued by the advanced command post of the supreme headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force. Some parts of the interior of France are already liberated, and the movement of German reserves to the front has been delayed in many ways. The communique states: “Since June 6 the army of the French forces of the interior has increased both in size and scope of activities. This army has undertaken a large plan of sabotage, which includes in part the paralyzing of rail and road traffic and interruption of. telephone communications. . In the majority of these cases the objective has been obtained.

“The destruction of railways has been most effective. Bridges have been destroyed. derailments effected and at least 70 locomotives sabotaged, ' It is reported that both road and rail traffic is completely stopped in the Valley of the Rhone.. Canals have not been spared l ; one has been damaged, one cut and another put out of action, and four consecutive locks of another have been destroyed. Villages Occupied. “Subterrranean cables Lave been cut in many places, and thougn some were well defended they have been attacked and destroyed. Many acts of sabotage have been carried out against transcontinental railway stations. “The sabotage, co-ordinated with the Allied effort, has delayed considerably the movement of German reserves to the combat zone, and l direct action has also been taken against the enemy. The Maquis are reported to have taken 300 prisoners and German garrisons have been attacked. In some areas villages have been occupied, and street fighting has occurred elsewhere. The guerrilla operations against the Germans are in full swing, and in some areas the French forces of the interior are in full control. ' “At the end of the first week of the invasion the French Army of the Interior has played its full part in the battle of liberation.” [The Valley of the Rhone, in which traffic has been paralyzed, extends for 150 miles through southern France from the big industrial centre of Lyons to the port of Marseilles.] LONDON AND ALGIERS Tentative Agreement Planned (Received June 18, 7 p.m.) LONDON. June 17. French-British negotiations for a tentative agreement on the administration of the liberated French territory will begin in London next, week, according to authoritative French quarters in Algiers. M. Vienot will represent the French Provisional Government. The negotiations are due to the British Government’s action. and a draft agreement will be referred to Washington to try to secure the United States’ approval. General de Gaulle has advised President Roosevelt that he hopes to arrive in Washington late in June or early July if the circumstances permit. If he comes, says the Associated Press of America, he will probably be accorded the full honours and courtesies dne to a visiting dignitary, but nothing will be done to imply United States official recognition of the Provisional Government. The “New York correspondent in Washington says: “The British and American Governments are reaching the showdown stage in the controversy with each other and with General de Gaulle over recognition of the French Provisional Government. The British Cabinet has split on the issue. Mr. Eden strongly urges recognition, and Mr. Churchill has over-ruled him, not because he disagrees with Mr. Eden’s promisS that Britain cannot afford to antagonize the de Gaullist faction in France, but because he does not want to act without Washington. “Mr. Roosevelt has taken the view that while .he recognizes Mr. ’ Churchill’s difficulties at home, he cannot recognize tile self-proclaimed Government, which may or may not have the support- of the French people. Mr. Roosevelt argues that such an act might win the. good will of General do Gaulle at the risk of the goodwill of the French people.”