STRONG APPEAL TO FRENCHMEN

Southland Times, Issue 24160, 24 June 1940, Page 5

STRONG APPEAL TO FRENCHMEN

GENERAL ASKS FOR FIGHT TO GO ON

REASONS FOR HOPE OF VICTORY

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received June 23, 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 23,

In a broadcast to Frenchmen all over the world, General de Gaulle, a former Chief Military Assistant to M. Paul Reynaud, appealed to Frenchmen to organize under his leadership from London and to continue the war. He declared that the enemy dictates mean the complete demobilization of the French forces by land, sea and air, complete occupation of French territory and submission to slavery. “France has undertaken not to lay down her arms except by agreement with the Allies,” said General de Gaulle. “Our Government has no right to surrender while the Allies continue the war. It is absurd to consider the struggle lost. A bad military system, faults in the conduct of operations and the defeatist spirit of the Government during the recent combat made us lose the Battle of France, but we have a vast empire, an intact fleet and much gold. The Allies have immense resources and dominate the seas. There remain to us the gigantic possibilities of American industry. The same conditions of warfare in which we were beaten by 5000 aeroplanes and 6000 tanks could tomorrow give us victory with 20,000 tanks and 20,000 aeroplanes.

“This is not a Franco-German war. It is a world war. The neutrals today may not be neutrals tomorrow. Germany’s allies may not always be her allies. All Frenchmen must continue the fight. The greatest nossible French force must be grouped wherever this can be done. Wherever there are military units and the means of arms production they must be gathered together.

“I undertake this national task in England. I invite all Frenchmen of the land, naval and air forces, all engineers and specialists in the arms industry who are in British territory or can get there to join me. I invite all French people who wish to remain free to listen to me and follow me.

“Vive la France, free in honour and independence.”