FIGHTING FRENCH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 171, 21 July 1943, Page 4

FIGHTING FRENCH

ARMY OF 90,000 MEN | HIGH QUALITY OF GACU.TSTS LONDONj The question how many Fighting; French are there has recently been answered by the French National Committee in London. I ■•The General Staff of General del Gaulle." says a communique issued by the representatives of Fighting! French, "makes known that the total effectives of combatants or those under training, of which Fighting France at present disposes, outside the homeland, exceeds 90.000 men. of whom 20.000 are men escaped from France to serve. "The population of territories administered by the French National I Committee would make it obviously | possible to raise a much larger num-j ber. But'to-day only troops that are; well trained and well armed can j triumph. It is for this reason that, the High Command of the Fighting. French has made it the rule to constitute or engage only land, naval and air forces adequate for modern war-j fare." The fine exploits of such men as, General Leclerc in his march from the Chad countrv to make junction I with the British Eighth Army, and ■ General Koenig's magnificent defence; of Bir Hakeim, speak eloquently fori the high quality of the Fighting French troops under General de Gaulle.