HOPES OF UNITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1942, Page 4

HOPES OF UNITY

ENTERTAINED BY FIGHTING FRENCH NATION RESUMING ACTIVE ROLE. DECLARATION BY M. PHILIP. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) ' RUGBY, December 29. M. Andre Philip, Fighting French National Commissioner for the Interior a.nd Labour, announc-ed-in the 8.8. C. European service tonight that broadcasts would be resumed nightly by Fighting French spokesmen. The broadcasts had been interrupted by the unsatisfactory position in North Africa, but this had now been modified, and it was a fact, said M. Philip ,that possibilities had been opened for collaboration, and eventually union, among ail authentic elements of French resistance. “The Allied landing in North Africa opens a new page in the history of our nation,” said M. Philip. “The French Empire can today be reconstituted, and thanks to the Empire France is able to play a primary role in the Mediterranean war. The door is open for us to resume our role in the world. This participation in the Allied war effort is France’s participation. Generals d-2 Gaulle and Giraud are not feudal chiefs, bringing territories which belong to them or troops personally faithful to them. They are, as we all are, servants of a single French nation.” AMERICAN FEARS “FINGERS STILL CROSSED.” (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) NEW YORK. December 29. The “Christian Science Monitor’s" Washington correspondent, Mr Joseph Harsch, says official Washington does not share the initial reaction in London to Admiral Darlan’s assassination. Washington circles still fear that individual French leaders in Africa, who ceased fighting against the Allies only in obedience to Darlan, may now revert to the Vichy policy. One Washington official said: “We felt a lot better when we heard that General Giraud had been selected, but we still have our fingers crossed.” Mr Harsch points out that Darlan s assassination possibly was an Axis scheme, and a prearranged signal for an outbreak behind the Allied lines and a simultaneous German invasion of Spain. The fact that four days have passed without event indicates that these Axis plans probably failed, but Hitler still gained an important delay in the opening of the AngloAmerican drive in Tunisia. This accounts for the feeling of uncertainty in Washington, despite a strong sense of relief. The “Monitor’s” correspondent in North Africa says the strength of German anti-aircraft fire at Tunis and Bizerta shows that Hitler has redistributed his fighting strength and has succeeded in pouring heavy reinforcements into Africa, outpacing the Allies. The correspondent quotes a R.A.F. officer as saying: “Hitler’s flak at Tunis is as good as ever it was at Ostend.” This means that the Allies have been checked and obliged to withdraw, after fierce counter-attacks, to defensive positions, in order to. await reinforcements and supplies, while the Axis is continuing to improve its African airfields and to construct new ones. This has magnified the Allied task of renewed attack and . has also reduced the prospect of a quick decision.