CEREMONY IN LONDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24969, 16 July 1942, Page 5

CEREMONY IN LONDON

OVATION FOR DE GAULLE LONDON, July 14.

Thousands crowded around Marshal Foch’s statue in London, where General de Gaulle laid a wreath. This was the principal ceremony among hundreds throughout the world at which the Fighting French rededicated themselves to the destruction of the Bastille of Nazidom. In London that determination was symbolised by the French commandos’ fixed bayonets around Marshal Foch’s statue. From dawn : , London’s French colony and sympathisers began to assemble, and long before. General de Gaulle arrived the traffiir had to be diverted. General de Gaulle received a tremendous ovation. Tricolours waved from thousands of hands, and cheers and cries of “Vive la France!” resounded. General de Gaulle laid a wreath amid many which were already around the statue. The crowds then broke through the police barrier in an enthusiastic demonstration for General de Gaulle. The streets had to be forcibly cleared for the march past of the Fighting French. CLASHES IN FRANCE A NUMBER OF CASUALTIES (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 15. Two women were killed and five others were wounded when followers of Jacques Doriot, the French Fascist leader, fired on a crowd of 3000 which endeavoured to march in Marseilles in celebration of Bastille Day. Heavy guards prevented the march. A crowd of 1000 at Lyons was also prevented from marching. Some shots were fired.

At Vichy 300 marchers placed a wreath on the Third Republic Monument in spite of soldiers being stationed round it