FRENCH SHIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1942, Page 4

FRENCH SHIPS

HANDED OVER TO AXIS LAVAL’S LATEST TREACHERY. (By Telegraph—i Press Association —Copyright) LONDON. December 13. According to the foreign editor of “Reynolds News,” M. Laval has handed over practically the entire French merchant fleet to Hitler, and German crews now man most of the French merchantmen at Marseilles. Marshal Petain had no part in the deal. The text of Petain’s reply to Hitler’s letter in reference to the German occupation of the Mediterranean coast and the demobilisation of the French armed forces has been belatedly issued by the Vichy news agency. Petain said: "I can only bow to those decisions which have had painful repercussions throughout the country. “You rightly deem that it is inconceivable that a State can in the long run exist without a disciplined and obedient army. My first duty, therefore, is to reconstitute an army which is capable of ensuring the safety of France and her empire.” Petain added that he was consulting Field-Marshal von Rundstedt about this. He said that he was touched by Hitler’s expressed determination “to collaborate with France and aid her to reconquer her colonial domain.” The Madrid correspondent of the "Daily Mail” says that Petain's plea for reconstruction of the army has apparently been rebuffed. Von Rundstedt last week told Petain that Germany would welcome recruits for the Tricolour Legion to fight against Russia, but only those who earned commendation in the legion would be considered for the nucleus of a new French army. Von Rundstedt pointed out that Germany demanded, first and foremost, strict maintenance of internal order and speedy enrolment of workers for Germany. He added a “kid-gloyed” warning that German troops would always be available to assist in maintaining order.