The Goderich Signal-Star, 1966-11-10, Page 5.7)
Th
Blue Thumb
The GOaerich $ignai-Slar, Thursday, Nevertiber 10, 1960 A
Disgraceful Story of. FradiKeis Surrender Unfolds
Uten-et'-ta-ng,iflnn.ci it - oPliy,vvhen 1.0„..._..0Q..„.#O_Will be a. i,,i4vgmtpA,q,ee ef.,Englaryl was .
or
Tlinteath nf Paift Reybioa ItS"sigrinienterffrisifitbrta5-110Efrillir
age 87 brings to mind what must trophe" by General Sir Edward time, this was disconcerting en- ti al Gainelin, the French Com-
be the most damning indictment Spearsough, but it was as nothing to nlander in Chief: "Where are
the actions, of pig-headedness, the reserves?", only to be told
suicide and betrayal which were by the deteriorated Gatnelin:
disclosed when the whole • 1 here is none!" Ile was dis-
French apple was found to be misscd and Weygand appointed
rotten to the very core. It was
under these appalling national
conditions that Reynaud labored
and finally surrendered.
Petain Senile
Germany invaded on a wide
front from Holland to Switzer-
land on May 10th 194Q and the
British Expeditionar4 Force
(B.E.F.) was in .positimia between
the Belgians to the north and
the 1st French Army, along the
bank of the river Byte on the
1-3th -Reynaud then -reorganized
his cabinet and, as a sop to
what be,believed to be the spirit
of the people, made the senile
Marshat Petain his vice-presi-
dent of cotthcil. Reynaud's brave
words at the time were: "Mar-
shal Petain will remain at my
side till victory is won."
On the 15th the Germans
broke the line at Sedan and re-
ports from the front immediate-
ly .reflected 'the defeatism with
which the Army was infee,ed:
"This Army is in an indescrib-
able. disorderlY
By the 17th Chprchill, now
QUICK CANADIAN QUIZ
1.0f purebred dogs, which are .
the most popular species with
Canadians?
2, There are 265 seats in the
House of Commons. Which
province has the largest num-
ber?
3. Manufacturing employment in
Canada was 658,114 in 1939,
1,171,207 in 1949. What is
the current total?
4. About 1,005,000 Canadians re-
ceive the old age security
pension, paid to all at age 70.
How many in the 65 -to -69
years age group receive the
-- -pension -that is paya1fIe-0n
proof of need?
5. What proportion of Canada's
4,757,000 households have
automobiles?
ANSWERS: 5. At May, 1964,
74 per cent. 3. Average monthly
employment in manufacturing
during, 1964 was 1,416;000. 1.
Of the 114 species registered
with the Canadian Kennel Club,
the beagle and poodle are most
popular and about -equal in num-
ber. 4. About 107,000 persons
in the 65 -to -69 years age group
receive old age assistance on
proof of need. 2. Ontario, with
85 seats.
Reynaud was Premier of.
France from March 12 to June
16,1940. Speamwas Churchill's
personal liaison officer with the
French government throughout
the debacle. As the whole dis-
graceful stay of France's sur -
„render unfolds, it has to be re.
membered that the average Eng-
lishman still retained. memories
of the spirit of France in 1914,
1918. I say the average English-
man, because the British govern-
ment and the serViees had been
fully informed by such observ-
ers as General J. F. C. Fuller, of
the parlous state of the French
air force and army.
A state -underlined by bhe dis-
asrous strategy of the Maginot
Line—.a series of forts, which
successfully ensnared nine div-
isions of troops. This national
condition was so novel, so un-
believable, alai the British gov-
ernment simply refused to com-
prehend it.How could a whale
nation—not just its government
—become moribund in 20 short
years? It could not be true!
November, 1939,, found the
Belgians still refusing to allow
Frenfeh troops to take up posi-
tions in their country. As Rey-
naud said: "We will be invited
to supreme command, while
Churchill diverted 10 more fight-
er squadrons to France's de-
4nce.
The Germans had now reach-
ed a line from Cambrai to Ham
on the Somme. Elsewlere Ar-
ras and Amiens were reported
lost; and this was only the fifth
day of battle. France was
aisurtd” by being told that Pe-
tain in reality only a splendid
name and Weygand Ithe reput-
ed soul of Fochi had 21ased
their. services in France's ser-
vice at this tragic hour when
they had, the, right to rest on
their glory.
Weygand immediately display-
ed the pattern of defeatism
which would color the remain-
ing weeks of French liberty, He
accused Lord Gort, the BritiSh
Commander in Chief of the B.E.
F., of letting the French down.
Weygand went on to tell Church-
ill that 46 divisions were *encirc-
led between the Somme and
Arras. Only 60 French divis-
ions, With no material, remained
to face 140 fresh German
cIivis-
ions. Frenshermour omprised
thriTie',..divisikerrs;4444010.WWie
man he insisted. This estimate
of German strength in France
was manifest hysteria: Reynaud
gave totally 'different figures and
there appeared to be no single
source of trustworthy inform,
ation whatsoever.
Commanders Fell
French Army commanders
were now falling and being re-
placed like nine pins. Blanch-
ard assumed charge of the
French, British and Belgian
forces in the north. Reynaud
reiterated Weygand's criticism
of the evacuation of Arras by
;the B.E.F. and the removal of
heavy material from Havre,
only to receive from Churchill
the bruslue reply -that the evac-
uation of Arras was contrary to
our wishes, if in fact it was
true, while the removal of gas
_shell from Havre was our busi-
ness.
By the 25th, Weygand was
saying: "This war is sheer mad-
ness. A 1918 Army fights a 1939
-German Army." The same day
Mandel, Ministerof the inter-
ior, asked what is the matter '
with the Army, answered." For
eight months officers and N.C. '
Os have been on a spree, while
the staff produced papers." Pe-
tain, he added, is barely alive,
while Weygand is already think -
ing in terms ot surrender. to order the rerieh o em ar. .
'fdpSe a 1pe whOle na ;ion. 'IteYnatirlxs- next inovMs.
Belgian 'resistance ceased on appeal to the, 'Ynited States i9
the 27th and the saiiie evening, intervene; upon which Petain
at 10 p.m., the Icing of the Bel- niad e their declaration of war a
gians capitulated. This left the condition of not asking for an
1st French Any .and„ four Bri- armistice. Churchill had al-
tish divisions in danger of being ready made it clear that "Britain
cut off from the Channel pirts. will fight on," a tieelaration
Meanwhile the French govern- scoffed at by the appeasing maj-
went talked of buying off Mus:, orhy of the French cabinet.
solini's threat of invasion by sur- Reynaud was then asked to con -
rendering Suez and Gibraltar, tinue the battle from North
even Malta. Africa, but could not steel him -
While France as a whole was self to face his Cabinet.
wringing its hands, awaiting the When Roosevelt refused to
arrival of Panzers in Paris, Rey- commit his country, Churchill,
naud was ‘declaring: "I will go told the Freneh he would agree
on . . . but whet•Vhe Germans to an armistice being asked by
are on the Seine, others will Reynaud if the French fleet
replace me." Weygand, for his wOuld sail to British harbors.
part,was-again finding a scape--.° Here Dalian was the -blockI
did not create a Fleet to offer
it to the British."
,:When no decision could be
obtained on tlfis suggestion,
Churchill's final offer was for a
.declaration of union between.
the two countries, an offer brou-
pat in Gort: "11 only Gort had
counter -attacked . . on the Lys."
It was now obvious that
Frenth and British forces must
be evacuated from Dunkirk, to
Which' port they could still re-
tire, but Blanchard now refused
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Brands like A&P, Ann Pae. Jane Parker, Iona, Sail ' Detergents,
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• FRESH FRWTS AND VEGETABLES
•
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vsemmowirsgarrimele......
•
ght by de Gaulle to ParLs.
4'he .tame on„lune,
en iv traltoz whim4
the., built a Reynaud's cabinet,
forced him out of office and "
President Lebrun *Pointed Pe-
tam ilaudoin ((Forel:grt);' Wey,
garla(D(MeiaerPhre)),.wChtecalL'av(Wallarrs)!
Darlan
ruSed office 'until he could see
better how the( cat vveuld Jump. • .
• General Spears makes','crystal
clear how Reynaud stacked all
the cards against himself. Un-
der the malignant influence of
his miStress, Madame de Portes,
he filled his cabinet with defeat-
is,s. He never could arouse the
courage to impose his wNL He
missed all the oppertunities, un-
til he complacently capitulated,
full of pi,y for himself, full of
-excuses: —As—Spears—left him, °
you could see his soul departing.
L'on vit partir son awe]. Then,
addressing only Reynaud's body,
he asked: "Will you come to
England?" The' answer was the
usual negative, compounded
with excuse.
DID THIS HAPPEN
TO YOU
LAST YEAR?
•
•
. • •
•kk
AND NO
RUBBERS
The fir‘t silow fast ytar, we were zwampeu oy people in
dire Weed of overshoes. Here was a young man we caught last
year on his way to Sproule Shoes to get himself fixed up with
winter footwear. Don't be caught without rubbers this year when
the first snow falls; get in now and let us fit you with new winter
footwear while, we have lots of time, and you have lots of time
to make your selection.
We have rubber footwear and shearling-lined footwear, to
fit every, member of your family from the toddler right up to
grandma, Incidentally, all are reasonably priced.
DON'T GET
CAUGHT THIS
TIME . . .
GET YOUR
WINTER
OVERSHOES
N
1
•
00/€4 SHOES
GODERICH
KINGSTON meal.
Next to Club Grill