FRENCH POLITICAL CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 228, 23 June 1944, Page 5

FRENCH POLITICAL CONTROL

De Gaullist Officials LOCAL ALLIED HELP IN NORMANDY (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received June 22, 7.5 pan.) LONDON. June 21. Representatives of the French provisional government whom General de Gaulle took with him on June lo when he went to Normandy have already moved into the liberated sector to establish political control of civil affairs, says the “Daily Mail’s” correspondent with the United States forces in France, lhey are planning to .extend their control to other areas as the Allies liberate them, and will occupy key political posts in th Though the United States has not yet recognized the provisional government both British and American civil affairs officers are co-operating with General de Gaulle’s men. Sweden, by implication, -has gii en recognition to the French provisional government, says the “Daily Express. ’ King Gustav, in reply to congratulations from General de Gaulle on his eighty-sixth birthday, said: "J express the sincerest thanks to your Excellency and the Provisional Government of the French Republic.” „ , ~ Thousands of recruits flock to the Maquis with each Allied advance in Normandy, states a Reuter correspondent at an Allied advanced command post. French patriots are cutting railway lines in Brittany daily, and have even fought sharp engagements with German troops. Tremendous Assistance. Harassing actions in south-western France are stated to have delayed the advance of one panzer division. A high degree of organization has been perfected, resulting in co-ordinated action against railways, bridges, and also telephone cables, at key points surrounding Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse and other important places. The Allied command has not relied on action by patriots, but these have assumed sucli a scale that they are now a tremendous help to the Normandy operations The Germans apparently have found it necessary to assign certain troops especially to combat the Maquis. Four hundred Frenchmen of the underground movement have been taken to Germany for questioning and possible execution. This was revealed when a train carrying a number of repatriates stopped alongside a train bound for Germany in which were French prisoners. The repatriates, who included five Britons and seven Americans, were travelling from Poland to the Spanish border to be exchanged for German civilian prisoners. The train had to take a circuitous route across France to avoid sabotaged tracks, but it -was delayed every few hours while repairs were effected because of sabotage. Four days were occupied in crossing France. PEOPLE’S WELCOME Feeling In Liberated Area (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, June 21. Now that the invasion has been successfully launched and the first excitement is over, Britain is returning to its humdrum way of wartime life, with the exception, of course, in the south, that the flying bomb is adding an unusual and unpleasant spice. What people arg most interested i.n at the moment is conditions in France among the French population. It seems that at first many French people, after years of German propaganda. were not sure whether the invasion was not another Dieppe raid, which the Germans had represented as an invasion that failed. Reports indicate that the French are now convinced that the Allies have come to stay. Alan Moorehead, of the “Daily Express,” reports that most of the French people welcome the Allies, and that further inland the welcome will be even greater. Whereas in Italy the chief thought of the Italians was that they could get out of the war once the Allies arirved, on the other hand the French want to get into it, and are volunteering in thousands. Many suffered by the Allied bombing, and when it did not appear that the bombing was going to win the war there was bitter feeling. But now that the landing has followed, most French people are going through the ordeal with courage and understanding, though there are, of course, exceptions. Tke people of Normandy are regarded among Frenchmen as being of a dour North Country type, but they hate the German as an arrogant intruder, and the fact that the Germans have behaved comparatively well has not made any difference. They are reserved people who do not beg for cigarettes and chocolate as did the Italians, but they are in desperate need of help, and that need will increase as the Allied forces penetrate further. Hinterland Problem. Christopher Buckley, of the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “As we continue to expand the number of our troops, the Germans will be faced with the dilemma that they must either take risks in front or in rear. They can no longer secure both areas. Germany’s extremity has been the opportunity of the Maquis. This movement, once confined to the mountain glens, is now spreading over the country. While its numbers are still limited, it seems certain that the enemy will never again exercise effective control over any region which is still technically occupied.” He adds that it is clear that the Maquis now works to fixed plans, closely linked with the general strategy of the Allied forces. Mr. Buckley says the relative apparent prosperity in Normandy is due largely to the fact that local produce which normally would be sent to the big cities from this “orchard and grazing land of the nation,” is. now perforce consumed in the neighbourhood, due to transportation difficulties. The writer says he was informed that of the 129 bridges which span the middle and lower Seine, 127 are at present out of action, indicating the chaos that there must be behind the German lines. “The Times” correspondent says that people who have got through from Paris, which is full of barbed wire, state that starvation faces those who cannot pay fabulous prices in the black market, which is manipulated largely by Germans, with their unlimited stocks of printed money, through French profiteers.