“DOWN WITH PETAIN!”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1942, Page 4

“DOWN WITH PETAIN!”

CRY RAISED BY FORMER COMMANDER. MARSHAL D’ESPEREY. Surprise has been expressed that the funeral of Marshal Franchet d’Esperey was not attended by officials of high rank. He is the first Marshal of France to be buried practically unhonoured, and yet it was he who “rang the bell of victory” when he defeated the enemy before Salonica and started the collapse from which Germany never recovered. That was in 1918. Perhaps the following anecdote, told by “La Marseillaise,” explains part of the reason. Last year, when Marshal Petain was visiting one of the towns in the South of France, invalided soldiers of the last war and this were, as usual, placed in the front line, where they could get a good view of the proceedings. Among them was a little old man, almost bent double, who insisted on shouting with all his strength: "Down with Petain! Down with Petain!”

At first, officials and the police pretended not to hear. But the old soldier continued his cry in scandalous fashion. The crowd grew amused, and everyone was silent so that he should be better heard. Finally he was wheeled away. “Why did you make this disturbance? Why did you shout 'Down with Petain?” an officer asked him. “Because he is a fool’. . . ” —other uncomplimentary epithets in soldier language followed. “How do you know he is an old fool?”

"Because he is.. I have had him under my orders'.”

It was then discovered that the awkward guest was none other than Marshal Franchet d'Esperey.