HEROIC FORTITUDE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24325, 15 June 1940, Page 9

HEROIC FORTITUDE

THE FRENCH ARMIES BATTLE AGAINST ODDS TRIBUTE FROM BRITAIN (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, June 14. (Received June 14, at 10 p.m.) The Government sent the following message to the French Government: “In this solemn hour for the British and French nations, and for the cause of freedom and democracy to which they have vowed themselves, His Majesty’s Government desires to pay tribute to the heroic fortitude and constancy of the French armies in a battle against enormous odds. Their effort is worthy of the most glorious traditions of France and has inflicted deep and long lasting injury to the enemy’s strength. Britain will continue to give the utmost aid in her power. We take this opportunity of proclaiming the indissoluble union of our two peoples and empires. We cannot measure the various forms of tribulation which will fall on our peoples in the near future, but we are sure that the ordeal _ by fire will only fuse them together into one unconquerable whole. “We renew to the French Republic our pledge and resolve to continue the struggle at all costs in France, in this island, upon the oceans, and in the air, wherever ; t may lead us, using all our resources to the utmost limits and sharing together the burden of repairing the ravages of war. We shall never turn from the conflict until France stands safe and erect in all her grandeur, until wronged, enslaved States and peoples have been liberated, and until civilisation is free from the nightmare of Nazidom. That this day will dawn we are more sure than ever, and it may dawn sooner than we now have the right to expect.” RHEIMS SECTOR SITUATION CRITICAL FRENCH WITHDRAW NAZI DRIVE ON LE HAVRE LONDON, June 13. The War Office Spokesman said: “ The' Germans have thrown in still more troops. Their strength at present is 120 divisions. The French counterattacks near Persan-Beaumont, which is 14 miles north of Paris, have progressed up to five miles. The French are holding everywhere, but a delicate point exists in Champagne, where the Germans are pushing hard in an attempt to separate our armies from the Maginot Line. The Germans have probably occupied Rheims, from which the French have withdrawn. Th f> Germans are driving westward towards Le Havre and are also trying to encircle Paris from the west and east. The situation is most critical in the Rheims and Lower Seine regions. The French and British Air Forces are active, and have bombed Mannheim, Neustadt, and Frankfurt, in addition to the enemy’s rear. The Germans earned out air raids on East Paris, Evreux, and Nantes.” The French War Office Spokesmans said the High Command had decided to defend Paris to the northern outskirts. then retire to the southern outskirts in order to avoid lighting inside the city. Delicate Points on Front French military experts state that the two most delicate points on the front are the Lower Seine, near Vernon. and in Champagne. . At the latter point, where the effort was renewed vigorously this morning, an attempt is being made to separate the armies from the Maginot Line. North of Paris a French counter-attack near PersanBeaumont. on the Oise, drove the Germans back eight kilometres, and fighting is taking place at Senlis, toward? the river. The fate of Le Havre is not yet known. Further British troops have arrived at the point 17 miles north of Paris where the French made a successful counter-attack, and also south of the Lower Seine. Their arrival is stated to have had an excellent effect on the spirits and morale of their French comrades. General Hering, Military Governor of Paris, has left to assume army command. after declaring Paris an open city, with General Dentz in charge. A notice posted declares that all military targets have been removed from Paris and measures taken to ensure the inhabitants security and food supplies in all circumstances. The Bank of France has removed to Saumur.