DE GAULLE’S AWARD

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 42, 13 November 1941, Page 7

DE GAULLE’S AWARD

Cross Of Liberation For Nantes (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 11. The Free French leader, General de Gaulle, has awarded the Cross of Liberation to the town of Nantes. The citation describes Nantes as "the heroic town which, since the crime of capitulation, has bitterly resisted every form of collaboration with the enemy. “Occupied by the Germans and subjected to the severest measures of oppression, the town, by numerous individual and collective acts, has given a magnificent example of courage and fidelity to all Frenchmen. “Through the blood of her martyred children, Nantes has proved to the whole world the strength of determination of the French people to liberate our country.” In a broadcast on the Armistice anniversary General de Gaulle said : “The whole of France, on this Armistice anniversary, has, despite the shame of disaster, the sufferings of servitude, ami the ignominy of triumphant cowards, found herself again tense with hope of victory and taking an oath of vengeance. “She sees that the enemy is indeed powerless to reduce our staunch and brave ally, England. She sees the German armies held in check on every foot of the immense Russian front. “She sees America advancing step by step toward the battlefields. ' She sees tlie growing Allied forces gathering on every front of the world to crush the invader. She sees her own flags, proudly held by loyal soldiers, enlisting among the combatants.”