GUERRILLA BANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25173, 13 March 1943, Page 5

GUERRILLA BANDS

ACTIVITIES IN FRANCE SEVERAL TRAINS WRECKED RUGBY, Mar. 11. Fighting French headquarters states that a communique has been received to-day from the general headquarters of the French gijerrillas and partisans somewhere in France. The communique is retrospective, and covers all activities in France. From December 20 until January 20 over 300 separate operations are listed, and an analysis shows that during this period French guerrillas and partisans killed 282 German officers and men, partially or entirely wrecked 14 trains, destroyed 94 railway locomotives and 436 coaches, blew up four bridges, destroyed 26 trucks, started 12 major fires, wrecked 10 labour exchanges, destroyed over 1000 tons of fuel and requisitioned food, and killed 10 informers of French nationality. Guerrilla headquarters in France informed General de Gaulle that any outstanding operations would be announced in a special communique relayed to Fighting French headquarters with the minimum of delay. The first such special communique, received to-night, says: “A Reynal detachment, operating in the region of Chalons, blasted off the rails at Chagny a train full of German troops travelling to the east. The operations were effected at a well-chosen spot when the train was going at top speed. Over 200 Germans were killed and hundreds wounded. Two other trains were wrecked in Coredor. The first, carrying war material, was completely destroyed. Twenty-two trucks of the second, carrying coal to Italy, were destroyed. “From these operations our guerrillas withdrew without loss “ (Signed) The High Command of French Guerrillas and Partisans.” The difference between guerrillas and partisans is that "the former are spare-time fighters, pursuing normal work during the day, while the latter live in hiding and devote their whole time to attacking the enemy. Both operate in disciplined bands organised on a strictly military basis and named after heroes or the victories of the Revolution.