Evening star., 1940-06-23
The Fronts

Political change in France at weeks
beginning left the world no doubt that
France was ready for military capitula-
ton. Premier Paul Reynaud, the un-
defeatable leader of Gaul, whose cry was
war at any price, departed the cabinet
In favor of Marshal Henri Petain. The
new Premier, "a, was the hero of great
French victory, Verdun, in 1917. There
Petain said of the Germans: They
shall not pass June 16, 1910, he asked
the Germans for truce and sadly told
French people by radio:
1T is necessary to try to end the fight
ing. I made contact with the adversary
last night, asking him
Petoin's as soldier to soldier to
Overture seek with me the means
to stop the fight"
The government was in Bordeaux
Paris, the beloved capital, had fallen to
the invader. The great industrial cities
of the north were in the hands of the
Nazis. Over Versailles and the Eiffel
Tower flew the sWastika. The Maginot
Line was practically gone.
Request for peace in France did not
end war in France. The Germans moved
steadily forward against the ragged
French Army of the north, to the Loire
River and beyond. While guns still
roared, Adolf Hitler, German Fuehrer,
and Benito Mussolini, the Duce of his
axis ally, Italy, met Tuesday in Munich,
Germany, for consultation on terms
under which France would be granted
armistice. Church bells rang and men
of Munich shouted He'll when Hitler
arrived shortly after noon Three hours
later up from Italy came Mussolini. In
the birthplace of national socialism, Ger
many's political creed, the two talked
four hours.
1t was time of infinite confusion.
Marshal Petain and GeneraHssimo
Maxim Weygand appealed
FIGHTING by radio to French armies
Goes On to carry on the battle.
German airmen bombed
feet of Allied transports in the Loire
River estuary. German press clamored
for harsh terms to avenge 21-year -old
Humiliation of Versailles treaty, and
French military leaders rallied 350,OOO
troops to new defense line near juno
ton of the Saone and the Doubs Rivers.
Churchill, whose government sought in
vain (too late, said French) complete
union of France and England just be-
fore France asked separate peace, pre-
pared English for battle for Britain"
He told cheering House of Commons
that any German invasion of England
likely would "be drowned in the sea or
blown to pieces attempting to land" He
challenged the continents new master:
Hitler knows he will have to break us
In this island or lose the war;
The war of nerves revived. What
would be the armistice terms? In Wash
ington The Star was told
French by persons close to Berlin
Fleet government that Hitler
would require military oc-
cupation of France, seek to build no
new boundaries until the issue with Brit
ain was settled. Diplomats expected de-
mand for complete surrender of French
military opposition. In the center of
the picture was the French Navy. Com
bination of German, Italian and French
fleets would threaten seriously Britalns
chief protection-control of the seaway
between the continent and her island
Under British control since wars begin
ming, the fleet, report to The Star on
Wednesday said, was safe from Ger
man seizure.
Tuesday night Germans opened battle
for Britain" with first of weeks three
bombing attacks in waves killing II
civilians, wounding 30, while British air.
men raided Northwest Germany and
the Rhineland. striking at vital oil sup
ply centers, railway yards and rail COM
munications in Bremen, Hamburg,
Frankfort, Essen, Castrop, Sterkrade
and Hanover. Ironically, they bombed
also German-held Calais, in France,