FRENCH LOSS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23828, 2 December 1940, Page 7

FRENCH LOSS

LORRAINE SEIZED GERMAN ACTION NOW PART OF REICH RESIDENTS EXPELLED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, Dec. 1 The French province of Lorraine has been annexed to the Keich, and together with the Saar district it will he known as the Westmark. The Nazi gauleiter of the territory. Herr Uurekel, said that the French population of Lorraine would be deported, so as to clarify the German western frontier once and for all. Only Germans could live where German frontiers existed, he said, adding that the century-old dispute over the Ehine was now ended. .Marshal Petain referred in a broadcast to the thousands of French inhabitants of Lorraine who had been forced to abandon their homes, villages and cemeteries where their ancestors slept. He said they had lost everything, and they had no riches left, unless it were their pride in still being Frenchmen. It is officially stated in London that the annexation was not preceded by anv form of agreement with the Vichy Government. It is rumoured that there was a secret deal between Hitler and Laval.

BRINDISI BOMBED HEAVY BRITISH ATTACK FUEL TANKS AND QUAYS fßereiverl December 1, R. 40 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON", Nov. 30 The Air Ministry news service gives un account of continued nir operations in the Middle East during Thursday night and the early hours of I'riday morning, when attacks were made on the Italian port of Urindisi, where over 13 tons of high-explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped on military objectives. Bombs burst on the quays and fuel tanks south-east of the town, causing one fierce fire and several smaller fires.

as well as a number of explosions. Oilier bombs fell near fuel tanks and an arsenal on the coast south-east of the harbour. Ono stick of bombs straddled the main railway station south-west of the town, and two more fires were started at the southern end of the quays. In spite of considerable anti-aircraft fire the attack was pressed home without loss or damage to British aircraft.

RUSSIA'S ENEMIES "ALL REST OF WORLD" (Received December 1, 7.10 p.m.) MOSCOW, Nov. 30 The chairman of the Soviet Supreme Council, M. Kalinin, in a speech, said: "Russia is a tremendous fortress covering one-sixth of the world's surface, lut the other five-sixths are held by our unprincipled and irreconcilable enemies." A Rumanian mission has arrived in .Moscow to negotiate a trade agreement.