"DE GAULLE WARMLY HAILED IN FRANCE"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 141, 16 June 1944, Page 6

"DE GAULLE WARMLY HAILED IN FRANCE"

FREE FRENCH CLAIM Conferred. With Civil And Religious Leaders N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, June 15. General de Gaulle, leader of the French forces of liberation, returned to Britain from France this morning after spending less than 24 hours in Normandy. French authorities in London tonight issued a statement on General de Gaulie's visit to Normandy. He was accompanied to France by M. Vienot, Generals Berhouart and Koenig. and Admiral D'Argenlieu, also other leaders. Immediately after landing on French soil, General de Gaulle visited General Montgomery, with whom he had a long interview and who explained the latest military developments. Afterwards General de Gaulle, who is described in the statement as President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic, went to Bayeux, where he was received by M. Coulet, Commissioner of the Republic for Normandy, ancl Colonel de Chevigne, commanding the liberated parts of the third military region. With them were the subprefect mayor and municipal councillors of Bayeux. The statement adds that General de Gaulle crossed the town on foot amid an indescribably moved and enthusiastic population, who had been overwhelmed by his unexpected arrival. He also received Monsignor Picot, Archbishop of Bayeux and Lisieux, and local leaders of the resistance movement. Afterwards General de Gaulle visited Isigny, which has suffered particularly, where the whole population gave him a most moving demonstration .of courage and devotion. Grandcamp and several other places greeted him in the same atmosphere of intense fervour.

"The head of the Provisional Government left everywhere the first instructions regarding the resumption of civil administration and the organisation of supplies and public assistance," the statement concludes.