LAND OF DESPAIR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21203, 28 August 1940, Page 12

LAND OF DESPAIR

FRANCE UNDER CONQUEROR LONDON, July 31 The first story of France’s despair and of the chaos in her warravaged countryside was told by a neutral diplomat who crossed into Spain. He spoke of the tragedy of the millions of refugees, not only French, but Belgian and Dutch as well, who are being driven into temporary camps. He spoke, too, of the bitter bewilderment of the French soldiers,

'now handing over their arms to the j enemy. “Whatever in occupied France or in the part that still remains nominally free, despair is intensifying with every hour,” said the informant. “All day, along the roads bedraggled French troops are marching ( i to depots where they sullenly obey , their officers’ orders to pile arms. In the towns and villages you see them . standing on the corners waiting to 5 be sent to their homes, and wonder- . ing just what is left of those homes and the life they knew. “Everywhere, you get the impression that the French people do not 1 yet fully realise what has happened. Over miles and miles of the French _ countryside, great masses of French,' 2 Belgian and Dutch refugees are bes ing herded, almost like cattle, into temporary camps so the roads can be i kept clear for German troops, still s moving on to occupy fresh territory. - Heavy rain and the cold nights have added to the refugees’ hardships.