POSSIBLE COUP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 4 August 1941, Page 5

POSSIBLE COUP

AGAINST PETAIN GOVERNMENT ( \GOt I Mill I.F.GION BEING RAISED SI I‘I'ORT FOR HITLER London. Aug. 2. Reports are circulating in Vichy of a possible coup d’etat supported by Hitler against the Retain Government. According to the Vichy correspondent of the British l nited Tress, the leader of the Cagoulai d movement. General de TOncle. is reported to be raising a legion not to fisht against the Russians as has been supposed but to oust the Gov- . eminent. The foreign editor of the “Daily Ex - press" suggests that Hitler is plotting i a French revolt in a supreme effort to force the whole of the French nation, fleet ancl empire, into the war on Germany’s side. A large number of Communists have been arrested in Paris. Nantes and the surrounding districts. The enemies of Germany are being encouraged to show their intentions so that they can be eliminated. The Vichy correspondent of the As- ; - ociated Press of Great Britain says that in spite of the campaign by the ! Paris Press for closer collaboration ! with Germany, the Vichy Government j is reported to have decided to take its own decision, regardless of pressure. ! Marshall Petain is believed to have ! explained the situation to Cabinet, de- | daring the Vichy should stay within I the existing collaboration agreements. Vichy political circle*; express tfpe opinion thaot nothing unusual is likely to happen at present. 1 The Cagoulards is a French secret society which, on occasions during and soon after the period of the Popular Front regime, was accused of plotting a coup with the aid of some German arms and money. Large quantities of hidden arms were found in police 1 aids.]