NAZI VENGEANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24104, 24 October 1941, Page 7

NAZI VENGEANCE

50 HOSTAGES SHOT GRIM DAYS IN FRANCE SUBSERVIENCE OF VICHY j (Reed. 5.40 p.m.) I/OXDOX, Oct. 22 According to a report from Vichy, 100 hostages have Keen arrested by the Germans in the Bordeaux district since the shooting of a German major on Tuesday. A curfew has been ordered at Bordeaux between 7.30 p.m. and 8 a.m. It is revealed that the execution of 50 persons for the murder of the Nazi regional commander at Nantes, Lieu-tenant-Colonel Holt/., was carried out in Paris and other cities as well as at Nantes. The Germans describe 31 of those executed as Communists. The* included a former representative of Paris in the Chamber of Deputies, M, Michels. Another report from Vichy states that 14 supporters of General de Gaulle were among the -50 shot for the murder of Holtz. Petain Blames Foreign Powers The Germans announce that 50 of the hundred hostages arrested at Bordeaux will he shot unless the murderers of the major are found by midnight. Marshal Petain broadcast four appeals to the French people to cease shooting the Germans. He emotionally attributed the assassinations to foreign Powers. .Admiral Harlan twice broadcast similar appeals. Both Petain's and Darlan's broadcasts began almost immediately the last shootings were disclosed. Petain confirming that 50 hostages had been shot for the killing of Lieutenant-Colonel Holtz. and that an additional 50 would he shot to-morrow unless the culprits were found. Darlan's Rush to Paris ''The stream of blood again flows in France/' Marshal Petain said. "Such a ransom is horrible, and does not bring the true culprits to light. The Frenchman's task is clear. You must bring an end to this killing by bringing the assailants to justice. We have no right to take up arms again to shoot the Germans in the back." Harlan, after broadcasting, rushed to Paris at the demand of the Germans. In a broadcast from London to the French people, the announcer said: "Remain calm, not for the sake of the German oppressors, but for the sake of the French people. If you had a real Government at Vichy. Marshal Petain would have found a word of protest against the shootings of hundreds of innocent people. By appealing for collaboration in the discovery of those who attacked the German officer. Marshal Petain degraded himself to the level of Quisling or Darlan. Carry on your war against the" oppressors by sabotage. Remember the day of vengeance is coming." Sabotage in Belgium The Swiss radio states that M. Blanchot. Mayor of Saint Nazaire, who is a former Minister of Marine, has been arrested. The Moscow radio claims that sabotage in Belgium has reached a mass scale. Within the last three months, 125 accidents have occurred to trains carrying German war material. Three Antwerp factories supplying the Germans have been put out of commission. More than 600 persons were arrested in Belgium last week. It is reported from Zagreb, in Yugoslavia. that 200 Jews and alleged Communists have been executed for an attack on two German soldiers in Belgrade last Saturday. A message from Bucharest states that 16 terrorists have been executed in Bessarabia. They are reported to be members of a sabotage band organised after the Russian retreat from Bessarabia.