HIS NEW COMMAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 11

HIS NEW COMMAND.

FRENCH NAVAL HERO.

MEMORABLE "ORDER OF DAY"

(By Air.)

LONDON, August 16.

The French commander in a unit of the Free French Fleet took command of his ship this week. He is only 28 years old, but his adventures, in this war have made him a man of 40.

Of an old 'and distinguished Breton family, he was torpedoed twice in three weeks—the first time in a destroyer in Norway, -the second time in a. trawler at Dunkirk. Both his legs were fractured, his. foot shattered and' a collarbone broken. Most of his wounds were sustained in Belgium for after, his second ship hfJd been 'torpedoed he led his men on'land and fought the Nazis with bombs and bayonets.

When taking his new ship over this week, he read, this Order of the Day to his men: "To-morrow I will lead you into battle.. The aim of this fight is to show the world that France, in standing by her promise to continue the struggle, retains her honour and her flag. "We shall be nameless and free from party politics. We are sjmply acquitting a debt to our country by sacrificing everything to her—even our families— in return for the thousand years 9f happiness arid security she has given to our forefathers.

"This debt of honour to France, this debt of honour to the world, is dictated to us by our hearts. I want you, my children, always to have the same honour and pride in fighting under the French flag in French uniform as I have in commanding you."