THE NEW COMMANDER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1940, Page 5

THE NEW COMMANDER

APPROVAL OF WEYGAND’S ELEVATION WORDS OF MARSHAL FOCH RECALLED. GREAT GENERAL AND BORN LEADER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. PARIS, May 20. The Press whole-heartedly approves of General Weygand’s promotion and Marshal Petain’s return. It recalls General Weygand’s association with Marshal Foch, who remarked on his death-bed, “Weygand, you’re not only a great general but you are also a great leader—a born leader.” The newspaper “L’Ordre” sums up the comment in saying: “The political conditions for victory have been fulfilled.” FAITH IN WEYGAND DECLARED BY M. MAUROIS. MAN OF QUICK DECISION. (Received This Day, 10.43 a.m.) PARIS, May 20. M. Andre Maurois, broadcasting, paid a tribute to General Weygand. “When the Government called in General Weygand in order to restore a grave position, he arrived by air from Syria listened to a report on the situation, assessed the difficulties and then declared: “I am at the service of France,” M. Maurois stated. He added: “We know that General Weygand has retained his marvellous quickness of decision. Like Foch in 1918, he takes command in the midst of a compromised battle, and like Foch he will emerge victoriously.” PEOPLE IMPRESSED BY MR WINSTON CHURCHILL’S SPEECH. NATIONAL CONVICTIONS EPITOMISED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 19. Mr Churchill’s broadcast made a profound impression on his hearers. His statement that “after this battle in France abates its force, there will come a battle for our island, for all that Britain is, and all that Britain means,” and that “in that supreme emergency we do not hesitate to take every step —even the most drastic—to call forth from our people the last ounce and effort of which they are capable” found an instant echo in the minds of British people. Realising that, significant as is the present hour, greater and more searching trials are yet to come, men and women, not only of the British race, felt that Mr Churchill, in his concluding words, epitomised their own convictions.