PANIC OF BORDEAUX

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1940, Page 5

PANIC OF BORDEAUX

DENOUNCED BY DE GAULLE APPEAL TO ALL FRENCHMEN TO RESIST. ARMISTICE A CLUMSY TRICK. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. June 28. A further appeal to Frenchmen to continue resistance was broadcast last evening by General de Gaulle, promoter of the French National Committee. “At this present moment I am speaking above all for French North Africa —for North Africa which is intact,” he said. “The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trick. In the Africa of Clauzel, of Bugeaud, of Lyautey, of Nogues every man of honour has the stern duty of refusing to execute the enemy’s conditions. It would be intolerable if the panic of Bordeaux were to cross the sea. Soldiers of France, wherever you may be, stand firm!” A London message states that General Nogues, Commander-in-Chief of the French forces in North Africa, is reported to have sent to the French commanders in Morocco, Algeria and Tunis copies of a cable from General Weygand urging all the army chiefs and other officers to maintain their discipline, have faith in the Petain Government, and obey its orders. The Berlin radio warns Frenchmen against supporting General de Gaulle. It adds that they are forbidden to fight under the armistice terms and that if they fight they will be treated as civilian traitors. RESTORATION IN FRANCE COMMISSIONER APPOINTED. LONDON, June 28. The Swiss radio says General Denain who was Minister of Air in the Doumergue, Flandin and Laval Cabinets, has been appointed commissioner for the restoration of France. He will deal with the problems of traffic, repatriation of refugees and administrative reconstruction and also demobilisation of the army. FRENCH PRESS TAKEN OVER BY GOEBBELS. LONDON, June 28. The “Daily Mail’s” San Sebastian correspondent says Goebbels has taken over the French Press. The newspapers are attacking Britain and praising Germany. According to reports coming across the frontier, the restaurants in France are reopening. There is a good supply of food, except milk. The streets are thronged with German tanks and armoured cars, though buses and private cars are not operating. Germans in civilian dress arrived at Biarritz and entered the town hall administrative offices. MOVE BY BELGIUM REPATRIATION OF NATIONALS SOUGHT. BORDEAUX, June 28. The Belgian Prime Minister. M. Pierlot, announced in a broadcast that as France was no longer fighting, the Belgian Government was now negotiating with Germany and the authorities in Belgium with the object of securing the repatriation of Belgian officers and men, civil servants and refugees.