WEYGAND PROTESTS

Evening Star, Issue 23882, 12 May 1941, Page 3

WEYGAND PROTESTS

NAZI " EXPERTS ” IN NORTH AFRICA AIRMEN IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES LONDON, May 9. Despite protests from General Weygand, Admiral Darlan has allowed 200 German experts to land in French North Africa, says the 1 Daily Telegraph’s ’ diplomatic correspondent. The Germans recently applied for visas for experts to be attached to the various armistice commission groups. The “ experts ” proved to bo German airmen in civilian clothes. When General Weygand heard of their imminent arrival he protested to Admiral Darlan, stating that unless ordered to the contrary ho would not allow the party to land. The first batch was turned back, and then Admiral Darlan sent peremptory instructions to allow their entry. Most of the 200 have now arrived. It is assumed that their ultimate purpose is to seize French aerodromes. A message from Vichy says the French police have rounded up 1,800 refugees, mainly Jews, Czechs, Poles, and Yugoslavs, for assignment to a labour battalion in North Africa. Many had already received permits to leave France, and had booked their berths for America. MERCHANT NAVY RESERVE POOL SCHEME GREAT INTEREST SHOWN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 9. Great interest is shown in the new plan for the merchant navy reserve pool. The ‘ News Chronicle ’ regards it as primarily a war measure which in effect converts the merchant navy into another branch of the fighting services. “ Incidentally,” says the newspaper, “ it introduces a great social reform. It ‘ decasualises ’ the work of the seamen in the same, way that the first stops were taken to decasualise dock labour. It is to be hoped that this necessary reform will not be abandoned after the war, but will be established permanently as' part of our national policy of reconstruction. Moreover, the impetus that the coming of peace will give to shipping will greatly enhance the status and value of all merchant seamen.” The wide scope of the scheme is evident from the announcement that all persons—other than fishermen—who have had service at sea. since January 1, 1936. and who are not now so sen'-, ing will register this month. INVASION PRECAUTIONS CANADIAN MANOEUVRES IMPORTANT DUTIES FOR MILITARY POLICE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 10. Canadian military police, most of them drawn from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, are playing an important part in the manoeuvres which the Canadian army is carrying out in preparation for the defence of Britain against invasion. Setting out in advance on motor cycles, the military police erect speci-ally-designed signs and dimmed lights at. all major intersections where they maintain traffic control posts night and day. The security and mobility of thousands of troops and hundreds of vehicles may depend upon the efficiency of their control. In actual operations the military police must be front-line troops, moving ahead of the main formations, plotting the way, and seeing that units are guided to the right locations. They are also responsible for taking charge of prisoners of war. The Canadian Military Police Company now in England is completely self-containect, and carries its own food, pefrol, ammunition, blankets, and other equipment. It is the only unit in the Canadian army which has no privates. Every man has at least one stripe, UNOCCUPIED FRANCE , WHEAT FROM AMERICA WASHINGTON, May 11. (Received May 12, at 8 a.m.) The French Ambassador. M, Haye, said the United States had agreed to supply unoccupied France with two shiploads of wheat each month so long as the present status of Vichy was unchanged. Payment would be made from frozen funds. EVACUATION FROM GREECE BRIGADIERS HARDEST AND BARROWGLOUGH SAFE (Per Okitbd Press Association.] . AUCKLAND, May 11. Advice lias been received that Brigadier J. Hargest, commanding the Fifth Infantry Brigade, and Brigadier 11. E. Barrowclough, commanding the-Sixth Infantry Brigade, were evacuated safely from Greece. DOGS FOR THE ARMY APPEAL FOR “ RECRUITS (British Official Wireless.) ~RUGPY, May 10. The war dog training school at Willems Barracks, Aldershot, has been inundated with letters in reply to an appeal made by the War Office only four days ago to lend dogs to the Army for war work for the duration of hostilities. It will be a considerable time before the tens of thousands of offers already made can be dealt with. The offers ranged from cocker spaniels to Pekinese, and the W ar Office stated that for the time being no more offers would be invited.