FRENCH EMPIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1940, Page 6

FRENCH EMPIRE

RISING TO MAKE WAR PROUD DECLARATION BY DE GAULLE. EXAMPLE OF EQUATORIAL AFRICA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.8 p.m.) RUGBY, August 29. General de Gaulle announced that the French Cameroons and French Equatorial Africa had placed themselves under the command of his representative. I his decision has given great satisfaction here, as affording a striking example of belief in British capacity to win the war..

General de Gaulle said: “This vast and valiant part of French territory has decided to defend itself and will be defended. No doubt other parts in turn will tread the path of honour and duty. "At the capital of French Equatorial Africa my representatives wore

acclaimed by the whole population and welcomed by all the troops, and took the civil and military power in hand. Thus, menaced by the covetousness of the German and Italian enemy and placed by a detestable armistice in an economic situation for which there is no outlet, the whole of the colonies of our Equatorial Africa have re-en-tered the war. The French Empire is toeing the line. The French Empire is rising to make war.”

OUTSTANDING FIGURE

GENERAL CATROUX JOINS FREE FRENCHMEN.

EXPERIENCE IN NEAR EAST AND MOROCCO.

(Received This Day, 12.8 p.m.) RUGBY, August 29

News has been received that General Catroux, formerly Governor-Gen-eral of French Indo-China, has joined General de Gaulle. General Catroux was relieved of his post in Indo-China by the Vichy Government because he wished to continue the struggle at the

time of the French surrender. He has had considerable military experience in the Near East and Morocco, and is one of the most outstanding figures in modern French colonial history.