WHEN PETAIN BOWED TO HITLER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 295, 15 December 1942, Page 5

WHEN PETAIN BOWED TO HITLER

“KIDGLOVED” NAZI WARNING (Recd. 7.40 p.m.) London. Dec. 13. The text of Marshal Petain's reply to Hitler’s letter with reference to the German occupation of the Mediterranean coast and the demobilisation of the French armed forces has been belatedly issued by the Vichy news agency. Petain said: “I can only bow to these decisions, which have had painful repercussions throughout the country. You rightly deem it inconceivable that a State can in the long run exist without a disciplined and obedient army. My first duty, therefore, is to reconstitute an army capable of ensuring the safety of France and her Empire.” Petain added that he was consulting Von Rundstedt about this, and also said he was touched by Hitler’s expressed determination “to collaborate with France and aid her to reconquer her colonial domain.” The Madrid correspondent of the Daily Mail says that Britain's piea for reconstruction of the army was apparently rebuffed. Von Rundstedt last week told Petain that Germany welcomed recruits for the Tricolour Legion to tight against Russia, but only those earning commendation in the legion would be considered for the nucleus of the new French army. Von Rundstedt pointed out that Germany demanded, first and foremost. strict maintenance of internal order and the speedy enrolment of workers for Germany. He added a “kid-gloved" warning that German troops would always be available to assist in the maintenance of order.