FEARS IN VICHY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1941, Page 5

FEARS IN VICHY

POSSIBLE HITLER COUP

USE OF THE CAGOULARDS

ANTICIPATED.

IN FURTHERANCE OF NAZI DESIGNS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright! LONDON. August 2. Reports are circulating in Vichy cf a possible coup d’etat supported by Hitler against the Petain Government. According to the Vichy correspondent of the British United Press, the leader of the Cagoulard movement, General de i’Oncle, is reported to be raising a legion not to fight against the Russians as has been supposed but to oust the Government. The foreign editor of the “Daily Express” suggests that Hitler is plotting a Fren’ch revolt in a supreme effort to force the whole of the French nation, fleet and empire, into the war on Germany’s side. A large number of Communists have been arrested in Paris, Nantes and the surrounding districts. The enemies of Germany arc being encouraged to show their intentions so that they can be eliminated. The Vichy correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that in spite of the campaign by the Paris Press for closer collaboration with Germany, the Vichy Government is reported to have decided to take its own decision, regardless of pressure. Marshal Petain is believed to have explained the situation to Cabinet, declaring that Vichy should stay within the existing collaboration agreements. Vichy political circles express the opinion that nothing unusual is likely to happen at present. The Cagoulards are a French secret society which, on occasions during and soon after the period of the Popular Front regime, was accused of plotting a coup with the aid of some German arms and money. Large quantities oi hidden arms were found in police raids.