RIOTS IN UNOCCUPIED FRANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 191, 15 August 1940, Page 5

RIOTS IN UNOCCUPIED FRANCE

CHAOTIC CONDITIONS FOOD DISTRIBUTION IMPOSSIBLE NAZIS BRING FAMILIES TO PARIS (.By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Aug. 14, 5.15 p.m. BASLE, Aug. 14. The National Zeitung discloses that riots have occurred in many places in unoccupied France and chaotic conditions exist throughout the country. The railways are almost at a standstill and food distribution is impossible. Hotels in some unoccupied districts, such as Toulouse, are barricaded with A.R.P. material because of the riots. Many are disagreeably surprised to find that the Germans are beginning to quarter their families from the Ruhr, Rhineland and other bombed districts in empty Paris apartments. While there are large accumulations of foodstuffs in Brittany and Normandy, other districts are hungerstricken. Unless the Vichy Government is able to obtain assistance from Wiesbaden by the autumn, all plans for reform will be worthless, and the plight of millions will be severe. It is believed that the Germans are disinclined to negotiate with the Petain Government because of its Royalist flavour. The Germans’ obstinacy over the return of Paris is believed to be due to the French refusal to permit the German occupation of all ports and the Swiss frontier.