BLUM’S DEATH

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1944, Page 6

BLUM’S DEATH

LONDON, August 10. Moscow radio stated: Two Russian engineers whom the Germans employed stated: Leon Blum, former Socialist Premier of France, died in a German “camp of extermination,” at Lublin, Poland, in 1943. Berlin radio last year stated that Blum, and Daladier, another former Premier, and General Gamelin (Allied Commander-in-Chief in France from September, 1939, to May, 1940), had been transferred to Germany “to forestall a planned British-American coup to liberate them.” Moscow radio says the engineers met a Jewish prisoner who pointed out a feeble old Jew carrying heavy planks. They walked over to him. He said: “Yes, I am Leon Blum, former Premier of France. They brought me in with the last batch of Frencn prisoners.” When the engineers asKed why he didn’t attempt to escape from France, he replied: “I don't know. Perhaps I decided to share tne fate of my people.” A week later, tne engineers met their Jewish friend, and asked about Blum. The prisoner pointed to the sky and said: “I too will be there soon.”