FRENCH ANSWER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 211, 6 September 1941, Page 7

FRENCH ANSWER

WAVE OF SHOOTING

Nazis' Intensified Reign Of

Terror

United Press Association.—Copyright.

Rec. noon.

LONDON, Sept. 5.

A wave of shooting is the French answer to an intensified political reign of terror. Three more mem* bers of the German Army, believed to be officers, have been shot, two in Lille and one in Paris. All victims are reported to have died.

A terrorist shot and killed Marcel Gitton, a former leading Communist. Gitton, who left the Communist party in 1939 and opposed the war against Germany, was a regular contributor to pro-Nazi newspapers. He was shot in the left lung and died in hospital. The assailant escaped.

Germans throughout Europe are engaging in fierce repression in an attempt to stamp out growing unrest and sabotage. Even the German journal Deutschejustiz clamours for nation-wide mobilisation of civilians as a vast spy army. The journal says Himmler is preparing decrees making all Germans informers and compelling them to denounce even the most trivial Fifth Column activity or treasonable talk.

Italy has banned all foreign news* papers.

Although special Courts are meting out violent sentences, they are failing to check the tide of sabotage and resentment throughout France. A number of j-oung Communists at Dijon were sentenced to from two to seven years' imprisonment. It is also disclosed that Gabriel Peri, one of France's most important Communist leaders, has been held for trial since June. A special Court at Paris sentenced 12 persons to three years' imprisonment. Sentences up to 12 years were imposed at Lyons, and in some cases private fortunes were forfeited. Alleged Subversive Activities The Vichy news agency reports that 17 municipal councillors in Helsinki have been arrested for alleged subversive activity on behalf of Russia.

A special court in Posen sentence! to death 18 Polish police officials on charges of murdering Germans.

At Bergen the Germans have arrested 50 public servants and dismissed the Ma3'or and his assistant.

German Army telephone wires were cut in Belgium. The Germans compelled the Belgians to provide guards, who are liable to be shot if the wires are cut while they are on duty.

Two forests were destroyed by fire in Corsica, it is believed by sabotage. A man was arrested in one forest which yielded chestnuts and cork for the Germans.

Reports from Turkey say the Montenegrins have driven the Ital ians out of Montenegro.

When the Germans hanged several Serbs their comrades replied bblowing up a German train near Belgrade. Guerilla bands are so serious in Croatia thdt the German Army has undertaken operations against them. Some guerilla bands are 40? strong.