THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 19, 1941.
CHINA MAIL
WINDSOR HOUSE
THE MEDITERRANEAN FRONT
War in Russia has swung attention away from the battle line along the Mediterranean. But the fighting there has been resumed, with the besieged garrison at To- bruk
making a new as- sault on the German units entrenched out- side the British defences. This 16,000-yard patrol testifies that Britain still holds the initiative, a fact confirmed by German glad consent to the prin- ciple of quiet in the Sol- lum sector.
There are reports that General Rommel's army; in Libya has been strip · ped of most of its aviation to strengthen the blow against Russia. But all this does not mean that! Hitler has given up the Mediterranean and the Near East. His high com- mand has merely allowed both to become contin- gent fronts, dependent on victories elsewhere for their exploitation. It is hinted that the heralded drive on now waits on Russian disaster and cool Septem- ber weather.
long Suez
Mater
BACK TO YOU; SIR
Catastrophe At Bordeaux
French
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*
He
It must be clear that
This is the seventh of a series of i I had often spoken and heard of ¡ not surrender at any price. British strategy cannot articles by the distinguished the "Afth column," but it was in added that Admiral Darlan, head dramatist, Henry Tours that, for the first time, I of the General Staff of the Navy, and doubtless will not
Bernstein, eriled by the Vichy really became acquainted with it, had given him absolute assurance submit to any such "crea- government, now a resident of, and saw its perfect organisation of this.
America. The next and final functioning. They were all there Marshal Petain tive pause" for Germany.
now informed article will appear on this page the men whom we had long, the Council that he had learned Now that the British
on Monday.
suspected und men whom we be- from a certain source that Paris lieved had been unjustly accused was already in the hands of the forces have ended the
On the evening of June 9 prar-hovering like buzzards" above a Communists; Thorez, their head, conflict in Syria, the Nazis tically the whole Frenc gover-dying animal.
was installed in the presidential palace of the Elysee. The minis- must temporarily aban-ment left Paris for Tours. As the Ministry of Information had been
tries and the Prefecture of Police During those feverish don hope of a quick vic-requesting my services, I left on
days had been seized by the Reds. the personnel of they were the busiest people in
Mandel, who had listened to tory in both the French June 10 with
Tours. They were everywhere. this statement in silence, that department.
asked mandate and Iraq. Stab-
They buttonholed people in the the marshal whether he had veri Up to that time I had been see-street, and in that city, whose fed this information by tele ilisation in Syria willing a great deal of Mandel, who population had increased tenfold, phone.
never ceased to display an ad- It was difficult to hold a con- release veteran fighters mirable firmness. I met him on fidential with modern equipment the day of our departure. when friend. They gavitated tireless to Egypt. If the Germans he told me he intended to return ly from group to group. One met cannot fight in the heat, himself, and to handle the defence the Australian and Indian troops can and will. Sup-
to Paris with a staff selected by
of the capital from house to house.
He wanted to reopen the theatres
and had asked for my collabora- plies from America will tion. Paris, he declared, was more difficult to take than Madrid,
resistance
become has
But from the moment I arrived that this project
soon
British whose augment strength in the Mediter. famous.
ranean. Before long Gen-in Tours I saw eral Auchinleck should had no chance of succeeding.
conversation with a
By Henry Bernstein
"How could I?" protested the marshal. "There are no communiy cations with Paris.
Mandel had a telephone placed""" on the table and without difficulty: made connections with M. Lan geron, Prefect of Police in Paris,: whose words he repeated aloud. for the benefit of the Council. There was no disorder in Paris and the people were maintaining. perfect discipline. Mandel hung up the receiver in the midst of The marshal complete silence. reverted to a familiar tactic of in- closing himself in the impassibil- ity of a statue.
*
*
On June 13 Churchill, at Rey-
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them also at lunch or dinner in the isolated chateaux where the be able to strike again of action grows more as-ministers and the ambassadors with greater power.
sured. More powerful were installed. And in their wake came the constant repetition of bombs and larger 'planes two words, "Peace" and "Petain." naud's request, returned to Tours
A few men bearing mysterious by aeroplane, accompanied by! THESE FACTS MAKE BOMBS ON GERMANY to carry them, with con-
messages came and went between Beaverbrook and Halifax. They sequent heavier loads, Tours, where they saw the mar- conferred with Reynaud and with
T The reports from Lon- are being used. Cautious shal and other important people, Baudoin. Reynaud asked the Eng- Chateldon, Pierre Laval's lish to authorise France to make don give every reason for admissions from Berlin and
country house near Vichy, where a separate peace.. Winston Chur- confidence that the Brit-tend to bear out the the latter had gone on leaving chill replied with great dignity,
Paris,
He solemnly agreed to give us the ish are not neglecting the London communiques. The rumour was spreading complete backing of the British golden opportunity The R.A.F. reports Ger- that Marshal Petain had already forces until victory; but he des afforded them by German man 'plane casualties as seen M. de Léquerrica in Paris clared that he did not have the and that the two friends, on be- right to release. France from her air force concentration much heavier than their half of Reynaud, had sounded out treaty of alllance. It was agreed in the East. In the last own in encounters over Hitler on the terms of an imme-then that Reynaud would address
diate peace,
nis famous appeal to President fifteen days the British enemy territory. Night On June 12 a council of minis- Roosevelt and that Winston Chur -air offensive over Western bombing has been even ters was held at the Chateau of chill would return later for an Cange, where President Lebrun other discussion before any de- cision was taken by the French Germany and Northern 'more effective than the was living. France has doubled and day attacks. If these re- At this meeting Gen. Weygand government. Under any condi declared that the situation was lions, the fleet and the air force redoubled its fighting sults can be maintained desperate and that they must at would continue to fight to the end power. By day and night they will almost certainly tempt at once to get the best con-
Jean Prouvost, Minister of In- British bombers with result in the recall of The group of patriotic ministers formation, published a few days fighter escorts roar some sections of the Ger- led by Mandel protested sharply. later a version of this interview They demanded that the empire Indicating that the English had across the Channel. Ap- man air fleets from both be defended, that the government given the French government parently the attacks are the Russian and African move to Algiers and that the fleet complete liberty. That is obviously
continue the war along with the becoming progressively fronts, with important English Navy, heavier as British mas consequences in tery of the air in this field fields of action.
those
beside the English ditions they could from Hitler.
Campinchi, with his usual fine integrity, said that the fleet would
unlikely. And it is untrue. At Tours I heard from the mouths of two ministers that at the. Cabinet meeting which followed Reynaud {Continued on Paga-10)
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