FRENCH WORKERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 264, 7 October 1942, Page 5

FRENCH WORKERS

SHORT FACTORY STRIKE

NAZI PLAN OPPOSED LONDON, Oct. 6. The workers at the Renault factory near Paris, which was very severely damaged when tho R.A.F. bombed it early in March last, went on strike for three

hours to-day as a protest against the sending of French workers to Germany. The Nazis posted ma-chine-guns at the four corners of the works and threatened to shoot 50 hostages if the strike continued. The men thereupon returned to work.

Vichy reports that Laval has gone to Paris to confer with tho Germans concerning the latest measures he has taken to secure French workers for Germany. A Press Association cable states that, according to the Berlin radio, political circles in Vichy are discussing rumou-s of differences between the supreme commander of the French forces (Admiral Darlan) and the War Minister (General Bridoux) concerning the limitation of their functions. Darlan claims the exclusive right to appoint generals. Against this Bridoux has protested and offered his resignation to Marshal Petain, but it has been refused.

A Press Association cable says that a terrific bomb explosion yesterday destroyed the Lyons bureau of the German organisation for recruiting French workers for the Reich. Reporting this, the British United Press Vichy correspondent adds that the explosion occurred three days after the Vichy announcement that more were expected to volunteer for work in Germany.