STAY OF EXECUTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1941, Page 6

STAY OF EXECUTION

OF ADDITIONAL FRENCH HOSTAGES APPEAL BY VICHY GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE URGED TO HELP NAZIS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 24. Vichy reports state that, following on appeals by Marshal Petain and Admiral Darlan, the Germans have postponed the execution of the additional hundred French hostages. The French Government is certain that everyone will redouble efforts to back the authorities in the difficult task of arresting the criminals and turning the provisional stay of execution into a final act of pardon. It is announced that the town and neighbouring communes of Bordeaux have been ordered to pay a surety of ten million francs. The money is not to be returned if there are any further hostile acts. “Le Soir” publishes a decree, issued from the Military Command in Belgium and Northern France, Governing reprisals for murders againsl the German occupation forces. “When guilty persons cannot be found,” it states, “a number of hostages —at least five —will be shot if the attack is fatal. All political internees in Belgium will be considered hostages.” It is officially announced from Serbia that two hundred more Yugoslavs have been shot in reprisal for attacks on German soldiers.