EXCLUSIVE DRAMATIC
M. Laval
Expenditure
Wednesday,
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
“INSIDE DISMISSAL
Special to the. "Telegraph".
STORY"
OF
The "United Press" in New York has received from confidential sources in Europe the first details of the account of the mysterious removal of M. Layal, Vice- Premier of France, and the dramatic preceding events. The following is written by Mr Joe Alec Morris, Foreign News Manager.
NEW YORK, Dec. 17 (UP).-Marshal Petain bitterly, accused Laval of attempting to seize power in defeated France and forced him to write his own resignation in the presence of the Cabinet, "United Press" advices from Europe disclosed to-day.
The tense scene at the Cabinet meeting in Vichy found the 84-year-old Chief of State standing face to face with the swarthy Vice-Premier who was inter detained and was liberated to-day after Herr Abetz, the German special representative, conferred with Marshal Petain,
The resignation of Laval isfactory according to-best- Informed revealed to be the climax of a long circles. series of incidents and led Marshal Early last week, Laval went to Petain to accuse the Vice Fremler to Paris to arrange the details of liis Ince in the presence of the Cabinet Marshal Petain's return to Versailles. of attempting to wrest more power, During Laval's absence, the intrigue not only from the Cabinet-but from against him Increased swiftly. Не Marshal Petain himself.
elther heard of this or guessed it and hurried back to Vichy last Friday,
LIBYAN ADVANCE
Fleet Can Follow
Up Successes
("REUTER'S" MILITARY
LONDON,
COMMENTARY)
Dec. 17. With the British capture of Bardia.
Vice
On H.K.V.D.C. which may be expected at any Premier's office was searched and the
Buildings
on the construction of the temporary
and the Finance Committee of the
He saw Marshal Petain but there was no break at that time.
At 5 p.m. Laval acted as President at the Cabinet Council meeting which lasted two hours and went through the normal routine of business,
At 8 p.m. the Council of Ministers met. When Laval entered the room, entire Cabinet he discovered the
grouped around Marshal there, Fetuin at the end of a
a long table. Marshal Pelain began his attack ni once and accused Laval of attempt-
to Kelze Ing selze more power. M. Lava! attempted to, exp'ala but Marshal Petain declared that he had lost cen- In his Vice-Premler. Elther
Décember 18, 1940.
OF LAVAL
Marshal Petain
It is understood that Laval desired to take over the now vacant post asjarriving at noon, Premier. He is niso reportel to have been seeking power over the Ministry of Interior headed by M.I. Marcu Peyrouton, the secret police and the Ministry of Flannge.
Police Search After his resignation, the moment, the position of all headquarters of the Government in the Hotel Dupore was surrounded by Italian troops, supplies and force of new "super" palice, the transport, which must fill that Garde de Protection, recruited from An additional $17,400 is to be spent 20 miles of road, is desperate. young demobilised soldiers and led
General by ex-leaders of the "Cagoulard." The problem which
In addition to these, there were buildings for the Hongkong Volunteer Sir Archibald Wavell and the rows of plain clothes secret police Defence Corps at St. John's Place British. Cabinet now have to of the Surete National and behind Bdence Legislative Council will be asked to solve is how to make the mout them, rows of Republican Guarde Laval or Petain must quit, the Chief of State informed him and he asked police. approve of this vote to-morrow. use of the great victory-can we in all, more than 1,000
beside
The Vice-Premier's wrote his mee at 8:10 p.m.
sat down and, Vice-Premier the
his recimation. He then re- automobile. Eight plain clothes turned to None of Marshal Graziani's supplier police led by the Chief of the
Cris
M. Peyrouten had effectively isolat. can be replaced as Graziani la severe minal Police, M. Pierre Moned coed Vichy, crdering all, cables, tele- fram his base by British corn-entered the Hotel and sprinted to phones und communications to
Laval's office on the second floor, rip- be cut off and placing
Troops It was originally estimated that mand of the sta only $71,300 would be expended dur Besides the very
powerful ac ping open the door and entering the bridges and railway stations. He ing the current Granelni yent, but on which the flect can give by shelling fee where they
hey notified Lavat that
Bien ordered Laval's private car to CAIRO, Dec. 17.-The hap- the work 13 already ahead of and bombarding 1.100 miles of the he was being taken to a "fixed" re- be unhooked from the midnight piest people in the Western schedule, a further sum of $17,400 is constul rond to Tripoll and inter ridence at his own castle, at Chatel train to Paris, the departure of Desert to-day are the Austra now required, leaving $28.100 to be mediate parts, it can enormously air Den, 20 miles south of Vichy. He which was cancelled.
General Wavell's question of supp); was then locked in his castle with
now coming provided in next year's esumates,
by convoying ships into each harbou which falls into our hands as he ad vinces.
It is revealed that as a consequence destroy the Italian Army in chauffeur was arrested as he stcod
At 11 p.m. on Friday, Laval's for Laval's resignation.
of a few additions and improvements Libya and take over the whole to the scheme, the total cost of the additional accommodation provided, colony? for the HI.K.V.D.C., and at the existing headquarters is now estimated at $117,00 Instead of $111,500,
Shanghai's Poor
Unlike Graziani, the British will no
է
ousted
i wife and his daughter Jose whi
s the wife of Count Hene de Cham-
$
brun, and for three days armed olice, maintained lines around thi castle.
CHUNGKING. Dec. 17 (Central News)-A terrible toll has been LHC tied to one road-Sollum is pro
Flandin Interview taken of Shanghai's peor and desti- bably available as a supply bass b;"
Ten days ago. M. Flandin was call. tute, according to the Shanghai Bere-sea to-day--to-morrow it may volent Society. Statistics reveal that Bardia and a few days hence, Tobruked to Vichy by Marshal Patain und}
The movement northwards from was asked it he would succeed Laval during the past 111⁄21⁄2 monilis 29,000
Fiandin persons had died on Shanghai's side-Siwa on Tobruk may have a decisive it the Vice-Premier quit. waiks, of whom come 20,000 were effect on the next British operation-had scunded out the Germans and children.
capture of that port.
found that relations would be satis-
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at
CAMPAIGN
WORRIES AXIS
-Nazi Style
HAPPY AUSSIES Activity After A Long Wait
(REUTER" AT ADVANCED
HEADQUARTERS)
lians. They are into their own.
I spent to-day dashing along the tarori
of these read with some bronzed enthusiastic acldiers whose only complaint about this war until dow has oven that they lacked the hance. as one lieutenant expressed it, "to show our folks that the Anzac
today is just
us good as his father."
vw they have it. The wave of enthusiasm that these fresh troops are carrying with them into the desert Is exactly the tonie needed by those troops, who have been fighting con- LONDON, Dec. 17 (Reuter).tinuously for the past ten days, and -Goebbels seems to have made whose difficulties are naturally in- creasing as they penetrate farther In- up his mind that British to enemy territory. victories exist only in the
Some of the most cheerful Austra- imagination. He has missed lans were riding to the front in five- the opportunity to find con- which have been overhauled and are on torries captured from the Italians solation in the thought that proving a useful addition to the Allied victories in Africa are Australian force. largely due to the fact that the cheer as they passed.
British troops gave them a special British used German methods
The strategy employed at Sidi Darrant, Sollum and Fort Capuzzo und which now menaces Bordia was the strategy that was so successful in Poland and on the Mruse. But there was one great difference in General Wavell's lightning moves comoured with those of the Germans
More Money For Anti-
Britain holds the mastery of the Malarial Work
sean,
There would be no Dunkirk if the positions had been reversed. IL would have been a 100 per cent. victory and not a man would have escaped.
Strategy Repeated
Supplementary Vote Temporary anti-malarial work undertaken at Tal Hang Valley, Happy Valley, Magazine Gap, Diamond Hill and Green Island. At Sidi Barron, notwithstanding has necessitated unforeseen ex- the proportionately small force of Oritlih engaged, everybody erst of
penditure amounting to $0,- the hammer-blow to the coast was 000. To offset this it is antici- aptured. The process was repeated pated that there will be equiva- with equal success but with the ele-lent savings In expenditure
under another P.W.D. hend.
cem-
ment of surprise, at Sollum.
12:spite the long trek of 150 mlies, sandstorms and lengthened munications, it will be surprising if General Wavell is not able to go on repeating the
In addition to the above, anti- man work is being carried out on behalf of the military authorities at Shouron Hill area at à cost of $0,- complete ascendancy in ing from the military authorities and is alr, and with Sollum
possession the possibility of sea transport of were provided for the military, autho being credited to revenue. No funds supplies becomes practicable."
Inchleyed process because he has go0,50, half of which is recoverable
Overseas Italians In Danger
On
rities' share of this expenditure and therefore a further sum of $4,900.28 The
Italians are reported to be is required on that account. throwing into Libya every available Owing to the increase in the price rcraft in order to restore the of anti-malarini mixture form 38 balance but they will have dimculty cents a gallon to 44 cents, in replenishing their full supplies. additional $1,000 is required.
The very vehemence of German The Finance Committee of the and Italian denials confirms the Im-Legislative Couneli is therefore to be pression_that there is serious con- asked to approve a supplementary cern in Rome and Berlin for the fate expenditure ~ for anti-malarial work of all Italy's legions ncross the waves, of $12,000, which will bring the total whether in Libya, Ethiopia, Albania expenditure for the current financial or the Dodecanese.
year to $43,250.
The situation generally is very favourable, and everything em be hoped for.
Cost Of Vehicular Ferry Piers
NOVEMBER RAIDS
CASUALTIES
SPECIAL TO THE "TELEGRAPH” LONDON, Dec. 17 (UP) It ometally announced that 4,588 civilians were killed, and 6,202 were The maintenance of the Vehicular out the United Kingdom as a result injured and sent to hospital through- Ferry. Plers at Jubilee Street and of air raids during November. Jordan Rond is to cost a total of It in 138,033 during the current financial dead during November
oficially stated that the comprisec year.
2,280 men, 1,000 women, and 402 The expenditure of $20,833 has al-children under the age of 16, while ready been approved and to-morrow the Injured included 3,493 men, 2,261 the Finance Committee of the Legis-women, and 458 children under the
ative Council will have before it aage of 16.
further vote, of $0,700. This is cauz-)
nd by the higher cost of materials and i
freight and the need for replacing More than 30 German and Ausiclor more fendering than could be fort- refugees arrived in Singapore recent- seen. An extensive painting pro- ly from Siberia via Japan on their iramme, is also necessary during the way to South America to join their dry season.
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