OCCUPATION OF TOULON

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23808, 30 November 1942, Page 5

OCCUPATION OF TOULON

FRENCH AND GERMAN . STATEMENTS HITLER’S LETTER TO PETAIN (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov 28. The Vichy radio broadcast a statement by the’French Minister of Marine, regarding the scuttling of the French Fleet. This says: “Instructions of a general nature were issued upon the signing of the armistice to scuttle naval units rather than let them fall into the hands of any foreign power. When the Secretaries of State for War, the Navy, and the Air met at Vichy at a Cabinet meeting, they were informed of the attitude of the German Government regarding the occupation of Toulon and the demobilisation of the fleet, at a moment when the occupation had already begun and Toulon was already cut off. ... “Admiral Abrial, not knowing this, attempted to get in touch with the local authorities and the maritime prefect of Toulon, but incidents had already taken place, and the ships were scuttled. The navy, according to us traditions, complied with the standing orders issued previously.” German Communique A special German High Command communique states; “After the Allied attack on French African colonies German and Italian troops marched’into what was then unoccupied France to defend it, with the French Army, against further British and American attacks. The French troops and the commanders of the French Fleet undertook the work within the framework of the common defence. The French Army, by the Fuehrer’s wish, was not only left untouched, but partly strengthened and equipped. “Toulon, with the French Mediterranean Fleet, was left to the independent French defence. Later ' there were breaches of the agreement and attempts at escape by high French officers. It was ascertained that AngloSaxon influences in the French Army had reached the fleet at Toulon. It was through realisation of the fact that this political cleft was endangering to an increasing extent the safety of the German occupation troops and undermining the French Government authorities that the Fuehrer and II Duce last night gave the order to occupy the port of Toulon to prevent the French Fleet going to sea as planned and to demobilise the French Army’s doubtful contingents. "German and Italian troops nipped in the bud resistance from elements influenced by the enemy. Part of the French Fleet scuttled itself, in spite of a counter order from the French Government, and demobilisation of the dissolved French units will be carried out shortly.” Hitler’s Order Hitler, in a letter to Marshal Petain said: “The order has been given to occupy Toulon to prevent the ships from leaving or being destroyed, and to break resistance with the maximum force.” . , , He told Marshal Petain that he had ordered the immediate demobilisation of the military and naval forces allowed Vichy France under the armistice. and he promised the Marshal a new army of “more reliable men.” All assertions that Germany wished to seize the French Fleet were pure invention. Hitler complained that insurgent elements in France had always managed to sabotage real co-ope-ration. Unfortunately, unscrupulous Anglo-Saxon and Jewish wire-pullers had succeeded in interpreting every friendly gesture as a sign of weakness, and every offer of peace as proof of a German collapse. Germany asked nothing from France than that she should not reject Germany’s proffered hand.' He claimed that the French had been given secret orders not to open fire in the event of an Allied landing at Toulon.