FREE FRENCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1940, Page 7

FREE FRENCH

MIDDLE EAST COMMAND. [BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] CAIRO, November 27. General Catroux has announced that General de Gaulle has appointed him as head of the Free French Movement in the Red Sea, Middle East, and Balkans, thus co-ordinating the actions of all of the Free French Committees in these areas. General Catroux, who is one of the leading Generals in the French Army, and who has rendered conspicuous services, especially in Syria and North Africa, was lately Governor-General of Indo-China. In this capacity, General Catroux refused to enforce an armistice in Indo-China. He could not admit that the capitulation could be extended to the Empire, which was left intact, and he had foreseen the serious danger which threatened French IndoChina from Japan and Thailand, and by the policy of subservience to the enemy. General Catroux chose to relinquish his post, rather than lend his hand to a policy contrary to the interest and honour of France. Accordingly, he decided to place his services at the disposal of Free France. SYRIA’S COMMISSIONER ZURICH, November 27. ’ It is reliably reported that a German plane, carrying M. Chiappe, on his way to take over the appointment as High Commissioner for Syria, has been shot down over the northern Mediterranean.