AT RISK OF LIFE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1943, Page 3

AT RISK OF LIFE

PUBLICATION OF FRENCH CLANDESTINE PAPER “CHURCHILL” HEADS LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. PREPARATION FOR THE DAY OF DELIVERANCE. Brave men risk death printing and distributing the clandestine newspaper, “La Voix du Nord," circulating from hand to hand, principally among miners. in the region of Lille and the north of France. It is reproduced by mimeograph, but has am illustrated head to its title page, showing the tall belfry of Lille town hall, silhouettes of windmill, hystack, nine derricks and smoking factory chimneys. Its well reasoned arguments show that the French people have no illusions regarding the fate a victorious Germany would impose upon their country. Ten pages that make up the issue before us, smuggled out of France at the price of what dangers we may never know, show that our raids, ; though often costing French lives, are understood and welcomed, as they also show that no faith is held in Vichy, still less in Laval himself. The articles are characterised by a determination to help the Allies win the war. The production of such a clandestine paper costs money as well as courage. One whole foolscap page of the issue is given up to a list of subscribers. No real names can, of course, be given, so every subscriber appears under a pseudonym. Mr Churchill has donated 10 francs; a “Dur a cuire”—tough guy—has been able to give 5 francs; Stalinette has sent 10 francs; Down-with-Laval, 30 francs; wife of a prisoner, 10 francs; Friends of the look-out man, 25 francs; For his return, 10 francs; General de Gaulle, 30 francs; two Gaullists and pro-British, 20 francs; anti-Fritz, 10 francs; Clemenceau. 50 francs; Timoshenko, 20 francs; Long live the R.A.F. (10 pro-British), 150 francs—third donation: Bravo the Commandos, 25 francs; Long live the Republic. 20 francs; De Gaulle. 10 francs; Long live Churchill, 50 francs—fourth donation; Chained up by Petain. 10 francs; Heil England, 10 francs; Waiting for the Invasion, 30 francs; with De Gaulle, 20 francs; Victory, 10 francs; Revenge, 10 francs; Chase ’em out, 10 francs; Sure they're coming, 5 francs; Robespierre, 110 francs; For the RA.F., 15 francs. Such are a few of the donators out of hundreds. Their pseudonyms are as much a proof as the articles that the real France is with us against the Germans. A special notice warns readers never to join a clandestine association at the invitation of any person whom they have not known well before the war. “Don’t give your name, don’t attend any meeting! That does not mean you will have nothing to do. On the contrary. France and her Allies need you. All arrangements have been made for both your participation in the war and interior service.” Gestapo agents have been at work, says the warning, hence the reason for extreme caution. And the message ends, “All will be well. You will do your share when the time comes. And, Vive la France!” Deep below the surface, in the mines, in the cotton mills, on the farms, in the market place, in the churches, the enslaved are plotting. The day of reckoning will be a hard one. Lille remembers that when delivery came towards the end of the last war, it was British troops who marched first into the town. They are looking to us again today, placing their faith in us and in General de Gaulle and his Fighting French,