MOVING SCENES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 16 August 1944, Page 5

MOVING SCENES

FRENCH ARMOURED DIVISION DESCRIPTION OF HOMECOMING London, Aug. 15. “There have been few homecomings in history like this one,” says the British United Press describing the arrival of the French Armoured Division in Franco. The soldiers came ashoi‘e laughing and crying without shame. Some of them were so anxious that they jumped overboard and swam to the beach, Others knelt quietly on the shore offering silent prayer. “The news of the arrival of the French Army spread like wildfire and at each town and village crossroad French people watched unbelievingly a sight they never expected to see—a return of their own army to fight for them. Emotions were varied as they stood listening to the distant rumble of the approaching convoy. As motor-cycle escorts roared Into view many stood mute like people afraid It was all a dream, but others screamed and yelled and showered the troops with flowers. Portraits of General de Gaulle posted on some tanks brought roars of ‘Vive de Gaulle. Vive la France.’ Mothers held babies high over their heads and even waved the bewildered Infants at troops. Many had stood for hours waiting for the convoy to pass and stood for hours more with undiminished enthusiasm until the last of hundreds of armoured vehicles had gone. “British and American troops at first tried to maintain some military bearing, but their emotions were too much for them. Tears trickled down their dirty faces and they shouted and waved with the civilians.”