BIG VICTORIES OF MAQUIS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 280, 23 August 1944, Page 5

BIG VICTORIES OF MAQUIS

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received August 22, 7 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 21, Toulouse, the commercial and railway centre of south-western France, has been in the hands of French Forces of the Interior since yesterday morning, says a communique from French headquarters at Algiers. Toulouse, with a population of about 200,000, is France’s sixth city, and the largest yet liberated in France. Algiers radio stated that numbers of the Laval Government are already leaving Belfort, eastern France, for another destination. German S.S. troops control the town. The Paris-Belfort line has been cut.

A well-known Frenchman who has just left Vichy by air told the Madrid correspondent of the British United Press that patriots have been in complete control of Vichy for the last 48 hours. There is no Government left in France, he says. “Ail the Guardes Mobile’s police and gendarmerie in Vichy and Marshal Petain’s personal guards, have joined the F.F.I. “Petain is still in Vichy, but Laval, Deat, Darnaud and other members of the Government have disappeared.” The correspondent says that French collaborationists and German deserters are streaming across the French frontier into Spain. The international bridge at Irun is a scene of the greatest activity since the inrush of French refugees in 1940. A large party of Doriots Legionnaires has arrived there and also some of Darnand’s militia, in addition to groups of uniformed German deserters who appear to be extremely glad to get out.Border Bridge Handed Over. In the name of the French Committee of National Liberation, officers of the F.F.I. last night took possession of the French end of the international bridge at Hendaye, on the Spanish frontier, says Reuter’s Irun correspondent. French occupation of the entire Pyrenees frontier is now reported to be complete. The French flag has been ceremoniously hoisted. with German Customs officials formally handing over control to the French. Today’s Algiers communique adds that militia and part of the German garrison at Tarbcs surrendered and the German garrisons have evacuated Rodez and Aurillac. French Forces of the Interior are holding up a German armoured division which is attempting to shift northward.

“The Lyons region is almost completely under the control of the-F.F.1.,” says a communique from General Koenig s headquarters in France. “The entire police force at Le Creusot and Monceau-les-Mines has joined the Maquis. We have completely liberated the Correze. Department. About 800 Germans garrisoning Brive have surrendered unconditionally. The F.F.I. from August 13 to 18 liberated five towns in the Orne Department. Our forces have surrounded Limoges and are blocking the exit roads. “The F.F.I. are guarding all the roads lending to Italy and destroying roads and railways which the enemy was hitherto usingin the south. The militia of Tarbcs have surrendered. We are attacking enemy communcations in the Nord Department. and destroying trains carrying troops, tanks and petrol.” High Collaborationist.

One of the most important coHaborationists so far captured is the 71-year-old Ferdinand Bouisson, former President of the Chamber of Deputies, says a combined Press representative in southern France. Bouisson was found biding at St. Raphael, from where be was taken to Draguignan because he was in danger of being lynched. A huge crowd booed and hissed when Bouisson appeared in a prisoners’ parade among members of the Gestapo and women with shaven heads. Bouisson admitted he received £l5O sterling a month from the Germans, but claimed he had secretly helped the patriots.

I The Columbia Broadcasting System’s correspondent in southern France says I there is a standing order to all the Allied troops that captured guns and ammunition are to be left at the disposal of the Maquis. In nearly every town captured in southern France the Maquis have ; taken control of' the local government, and Vichy officials have been placed in prison to await formal trial. The correspondent adds that a new German radio station, replacing the Paris and , Vichy networks, has given as its editorial address Charlottenburg, which is the headquarters of the German radio network. It is officially announced that United States and R.A.F. planes have parachuted thousands of tons of arms, am- ' munition, and other supplies to the F.F.1., who are playing a vital part in I the liberation of France. The Allies 1 have supplied the Maquis by air for months, but the extent was not previously announced because it might have helped the Germans to determin* the scope and character of the French preparations. These flights, which are continuing, demand extraordinary skill and courage. General de Gaulle’s Government has appointed General Koenig, Comniander-in-Chief of the F.F.1., as military governor of Paris and commander of the Paris military region, according to Brittany radio. General Koenig, in 11 broadcast message to Paris, said: “The hour I of liberation is near.”