FIRM STAND BY COMMANDER IN MOROCCO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1940, Page 5

FIRM STAND BY COMMANDER IN MOROCCO

Will Not Abandon Territory Without Fighting NORTH AFRICA NOT GOING TO BE OCCUPIED BY ENEMY GENERAL WEYGAND’S ORDER DEFIED (By Telegraph.—Press Association. Copyright.) LONDON, June 25. The Coniniander-in-Ghief of Hie French Forces m Morocco, General Nogues, announced that he will not abandon the French territory in Northern Africa without fighting for it. Ihe 1 unis radio supported this declaration by announcing that no part of French North Africa had been occupied by the enemy, nor would it be occupied. ■ . The “Daily Telegraph’’ says that General Nogues issued a fiery appeal toYhe French native populations in North Africa, declaring that not an inch of French territory would be given up to Italy. General Weygand ordered General Nogues to Bordeaux. . , , n 'i i The following message is being conveyed to General de Gaulle in London at the request of the French residents m Kenya: “In response to your appeal the French in Kenya fully approve of your attitude and have placed their services at the disposal of the Governor of the colony.” The Governor of Nyasaland received a message from the French consular agent saying that the French population in Nyasaland wish to answer Mr Churchill’s appeal and do everything in their nower as allies to help Britain. The Governor of the Gold Coast received the following telegram from the Ivory Coast: “The French ex-servicemen on the Ivory Coast, supported by all sections of the population, wish to assure your Excellency.of our unshakeable will to continue the struggle together with the British Empire till final victory is assured. We request that General de Gaulle be advised accordingly.” The French Consul in Mauritius expressed to the officer administering the Government of Mauritius his hope that the French colonies and French troops not on metropolitan soil would continue the fight for France at the side of the British Navy and Army, and lie announced that he had placed himself wholly at the disposal of the British authorities, believing that in doing so he was still serving his country.