FRENCH REPRISAL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 236, 3 July 1944, Page 5

FRENCH REPRISAL

Shooting Of Prisoners (Received July 2, 7 p.m.) LONDON, July 1. In order to force the Germans to discontinue their practice of shooting cai> live members of the French Forces ot the Interior, each local commander ot these, forces will in future take measures toward German prisoners on each particular sector, it is announced in authoritative French circles in London. This follows a report which was received from Algiers yesterday that on one sector the French shot a small batch of German prisoners after the Germans had meted out the same fate to Frenchmen. The number of German prisoners held by the French forces. of the Interior is not known, but it is believed to be well over 1600, and the number is steadily increasing. A military court in Algiers yesterday sentenced to death Colonel Justin Mangin former chief of the Vichy Tricolour Legion in North Africa. It also sentenced General Eugene Blanc, who was jointly charged with Colonel Maugiu, to 20 years’ imprisonmentColonel Mangin and General Blanc were accused of enrolling men in favour of a Power which is at war against France. Colonel Mangin was alleged to have received 1,000,000 francs for recruiting 50 men for service in Russia. General Blanc, who received nothing, resigned after six weeks’ service with the Tricolour Legion. Leader Secs Pope. A message from Rome yesterday stated that the Pope received General de Gaulle in private audience. It is 'believed that they discussed political principles underlying the French . Provisional Government's intentions in France. Earlier, General de Gaulle had a talk with General Alexander and visited French troops on the Fifth Army front. Ho conferred a number of decorations, icluding that of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour on General Join, and Commander of’ the Legion of Honour on General Clark. At a Press conference General de Gaulle said he believed the Germans were already beaten in Italy, and expressed the hope that Italy and France would soon reach agreement and find a new basis for po-operatiou.