Evening star., 1940-05-19
Premier Takes Over
War Office 10 Meet
PeriIous Situation
DuIudier Is Shifted to
Foreign Ministry in
Cabinet Shuke-up
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, May 18-Premier Rey-
maud concentrated military and
political power in his own hands
today, called back Marshall Henri
Philippe Petain, 83-year-old World
War hero, as vice premier, and
frightened Frances internal defenses
to meet Germany's fast-moving in
vasion.
Frances situation now was
acknowledged to be as grave as it
had been at some of the blacklist
hours of the World War.
The cabinet shake-up, announced
while Paris was undergoing an air
raid alarm, made M. Reynaud min
lister of war and national defense
as we'll as Premier and shifted
Edouard Daladier to the Foreign
Ministry. NJ Reynaud had held the
foreign portfolio since succeeding
M. Daladier as Premier last March
2l; M. Daladier had been minister
of war and national defense.
Petain Back From Spain.
Marshal Petain, defender of Ver-
dun in the World War, arrived only
this morning from his post as
Frances first Ambassador to Ma
tionalist Spain and became M.
Reynaud's right-hand man as min
lister of state and vice premier.
Marshal Petain, who will be "a
years old next Friday, was expected
to play an important part in the
military campaign. In 1916 he
commanded the fixed fortresses of
Verdun; today he is faced with the
problems of fast-changing war of
movement.
A communique from M. Reynauds
ONCE said, Developments have
proved the necessity of concentrat-
ing the direction of political and
military affairs" in the hands of
one man-the Premier.
Mandel Interior Minister.
In other changes in the cabinet
reorganization, Georges Mandel,
whose work as minister of colonies
had given him the reputation of
being a strong man." became in
terror minister in place of Henri
Roy; Louis Rollin shifted from the
Ministry of Commerce to the Colo
NAL post and Leon Barely, a Deputy
belonging to the Left Republican
Alliance, became commerce min
lister.
Camille Chautemps, who was
Vice Premier and Minister of State
for Alsace and Lorraine, retained
the latter office.
The shakeup ended M. Daladiers
four-year reign over the war min
istry.
M. Reynaud's original cabinet was
formed March 81 after M. Daladier
fell as Premier under public protest
against the standstill war.
Denies Situation Desperate.
M. Reynaud, presenting his new
government tonight in flve-minute
broadcast which was relayed to the
United States, told his people:
you have all heard that the
enemy succeeded in reaching the
Meuse and is approaching toward
the west. The situation is grave
the French people realize that.
ut is graver than in any past
years, but it is In no way desperate.
THE morale of the French Army
Is excellent.
Each Frenchman, whether he is
In the army or not, tonight must
take an oath that his motto will be
to conquer"
He said that Marshal Petain, who
had returned from Spain where
he has served Frances cause so well,
will remain in France until victory,
with all his wisdom and strength
at the service of the people"
He called M. Mandel, his new
Interior Minister. "a disciple of
Clemenceau. M. Mandel was chief
of Premier Clemenceau's secretariat
during the last war.
In addition to his cabinet shuttle
M. Reynaud promised there would
be a shake-up in the French diplo-
matte corps abroad, saying:
II add that a diplomatic move
ment is going to take place which
will give to France and its foreign
representation maximum of eff
ciency."