GENERAL GIRAUD HAS NEW POST

Southland Times, Issue 25335, 11 April 1944, Page 5

GENERAL GIRAUD HAS NEW POST

Inspector-General Of Army LONDON, April 9. The announcement of General Honore Giraud’s appointment as InspectorGeneral of the French Army is contained in a decree unanimously adopted by the French Committee of Libera-' tion. The decree states that General Giraud’s duties will be as follows:— (1) To act as military adviser to the Government. (2) To undertake inspections and other missions entrusted to him by General de Gaulle. (3) Membership of the Committee of National Defence. (4) He must be consulted on questions of organization and armament, the dispatch of land, naval and air forces, the promotion of officers and appointments to the. high 'command. General de Gaulle, in a letter to General Giraud points out that the committee considers it necessary at this stage to invest the French Government with supreme command of the forces for which reason “it has been found necessary to modify and fix more precisely your powers.” The letter assures General Giraud that he will remain in close touch with the armies and the inter-Allied command. “The Government records its I confidence in you and its intention to use your eminent military qualities in the decisive phase of the operations which will liberate your national soil,’ it states. “It also expresses its gratitude for your exceptional services, especially in Tunisia and Corsica.” General Giraud’s reply is so far not known.

GIRAUD’S OPPOSITION DECREE NOT RECOGNIZED. (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) LONON, April 10. General Giraud has refused to recognize. the decree abolishing his post of commander-in-chief and has defied General de Gaulle to oust him, says the Associated Press Algiers correspondent. t _ General Giraud, replying to General de Gaulle, charged the French Committee and its president with violating the republican law, in addition to committee ordinances and his agreement. General Giraud made it clear in hi? letter to General de Gaulle that he refused to accept the “honorary” post of inspector-general of the armed forces, says the Associated Press Algiers’ correspondent. General Giraud’s letter caustically drew attention to the fact that General de Gaulle’s announcement of the change was made while negotiations were in progress between members of the National Committee and General Giraud’s staff. General Giraud’s supporters assert that several members of the National Committee are threatening to resign.