JOIN ALLIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 268, 12 November 1942, Page 5

JOIN ALLIES

APPEAL TO FRENCH

De Gaulle Assures Victory Is Certain N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec.. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 11. "Seize the few hours which remain to come, if you can, and join those fighting beside the Allies," said General de Gaulle, broadcasting to France. "Officers, n.c.o.'s, soldiers, sailors and airmen, hurry and join the Fighting French forces. Bring your ships, planes and arms. Do not leave them for the enemy. Victory is certain. Come in and join it."

A warning to the French people against a premature rising was broadcast by the Fighting French spokesman. "The invader should be ignored and met with silence," he stated.

"The occupation of Southern France means that the Vichy Government is dead," added the spokesman. -The only vestige left will be some official carrying out German orders. The most important result will be the uniting of France and the awakening of the people in the Vichy zone to active resistance similar to 99 per cent of the population in the occupied zone. Except for Indo-China the French Empire is now all back in the war. Hitler's action will make the aim of the Fighting French National Committee easier to achieve. Th§ time will come for the assembly of a Government on French African soil composed of Frenchmen who have resisted the Nazis for the last two years." It is pointed out in London that Hitler has been compelled to make a move into Vichy France as the direct consequence of his overwhelming defeat by the British Army in Egypt. It seems clear that German troops for the occupation have been drawn from garrisons in northern and western France. The enemy is, in fact, now forced to garrison those parts of his southern flank, namely, the French and Italian coasts, which hitherto he had been able to neglect.