FRENCH POSSESSIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1942, Page 3

FRENCH POSSESSIONS

IMPORTANT PORT IN PACIFIC WAR. The colonies in the Pacific which have declared themselves for General de Gaulle and Free France, comprise New Caledonia, the New Hebrides, and a group of islands of.which Tahiti is the most important. New Caledonia is some 600 miles from Australia, and, with New Guinea, constitutes the outer defences of Australasia. The capital, Noumea, possesses an important aerodrome, and the port has been recently strengthened, with the co-operation of the Australia military authorities. The New Hebrides—the first French colony to declare for General de Gaulle—offer on their coasts good shelters and ports for the allied navies. The most impprtant of these ports is Port Villa. _ . The total population of the French Pacific colonies is 150,000, of whom 30,000 are Europeans. Among the numerous products of these colonies nickel plays a very important part in the wai effort of the Allies. The Free France Pacific colonies are under the leadership of a worthy representative of the Free France movement. The High Commiscsioner of Free France in the Pacific is Admiral. Thierry d’Argenlieu Admiral d’Argenlieu entered the French Naval School at the age of 16. He distinguished himself in the Meditteranean during the last war, commanding the destroyer Tourterelle.