PETAIN PREMIER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 169, 17 June 1940, Page 7

PETAIN PREMIER

NEW FRENCH CABINET WEYGAND VICE-PREMIER (From Daventry.) According to the French radio station M. Reynaud, the French Premier, has resigned. Marshal Petain (Vice-Premier) is forming a new Government. General Weygand has been appointed Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, that is Vice-Premier. Other changes included new Ministers of War and Air. Cabinet reassembled for a third meeting later. Confirmation in London of these changes has not been received and no comment is being made in the meantime. FAMOUS NAMES. Received June 17, 12.15 p.m. NEW YORK, June 16. The National Broadcasting Company has received reports from France that M. Reynaud lias resigned., The Columbia Broadcasting Company picked up a French broadcast confirming M. Reynaud’s resignation. A Bordeaux broadcast stated that Marshal Petain remains in ■ the new Cabinet, in which General Weygand is Defence Minister, M. Coulson War Minister, M. Laval Minister of Justice,' and M. Chautemps is also a member. STRIKING RECORD. * Marshal Henri Petain, who has been appointed Premier of France, is 84 years of age. In 1910 he reached the rank of colonel. At the beginning of the World War he was commanding an infantry regiment, but was immediately given a brigade and then a division. He acquitted himself well when his corps broke through the German position near Arras in May, 1915, and in the. following month he wa6 given command of the Second Army, which carried out the great attack in Champagne in September of that year. When the Germans were attacking Verdun, the task of stopping the armies of the Crown Prince was entrusted to Petain It was largely as a result of his systematic organisation and his energy that Verdun was saved. Later, in May, 1916. he became Coni-mander-in-Chief of the armies in the field. He quickly set ro work to remove causes of discontent among his men and to adapt tactics to the needs of the tyne of warfare of the day. When the great German attack came early in 191 S Petain was not caught unprepared and had reserves ready. Under the direction of Focli, by now in command of all the Allied armies, be withstood the German attacks of late May and June and July. When the time to strike back came, he was asked bv Focli to draw up plans-for an attack, and be prepared the plans for the great Allied offensive of August and September. 1918. which meant the beginning of the end for the Germans.

After the war high honours were bestowed upon Marshal Petain- bv the French and other AHied Governments. Later, as vice-president of the Supreme AA T ar Council, he went to Morocco in 1925 to supervise the arrival and employment of the reinforcements which were sent out to carry on the campaign against Abd-el-Krim. H-e was appointed AL'ce-Premior in Cabinet changes on May 20 last. FALL OF VERDUN. NAZI COMMAND’S CLAIM. . LONDON, June 15. The German High Command states: “After b;\aVng through the line of forts on both sides of the Meuse we have taken the town and citadel of Verdun. Our troops broke through the Maginot Line on a broad front south of Saarbrucken after heavy fighting and also stormed the forests of A r aux and Marre.”

The communique adds: “Sections of Allied troops on the Lower Seine and Meuse gave themselves up without a fight at many points. All the units of our Air Force joined in a concentrated attack on the Maginot Line •in the Saar region. They attacked fortifications, bunkers, artillery and infantry positions, including army columns, throughout the day with bombs of all calibres. Simultaneously, our troops, strongly supported by artillery, broke through the fortress battlefield of the Maginot Line, wrenched many defensive works from the French and captured the strong fortifications of Saaralben. “Effective nil- attacks were made on troop concentrations, railways- and roads in the region of A'crdun, Metz and Belfort. Many trains were destroynnd many railway communications cut off. Our fighting units also successfully attacked airfields and important railway lines and retreating columns in other parts of France. “The swastika flies from the Eiffel Tower. Tlie tricolour was hauled down at 6 a.m. on Friday. A German guard, of honour has been placed over the Grave of tlie Unknown Soldier and the Tomb of Napoleon. German troops stationed at A-’ersailles have taken over the guard before the Palace.”

The Bremen radio states that a proclamation has been issued urging the population of Amiens to return to their homes. “Germany will care for you and soeThat you have enough to eat. This is the will of tlie 1 Fuehrer.”