The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-21
ExpeditiOnary Force of America, Britain Would
 Smash HitIer's Plans SEVERAL CLUBS HELD
 OVER FRENCH PEOPLE I,5OO, 900 Frenchmen Are Still Held By Hitler as
 Prisoners of War
BY LOUIS F. KEEMLE (Of the United Press War Desk,


 The voice is Laval's but the words are Hitler's. Speak. ing through his puppet pre- mier, the Fuehrer is making an obvious effort to spread confusion and doubt among the French people, to make them deeply suspicious Of England, and above all, to sap their spirit of resistance Hitler would have the French peo- pie believe that 1t is futile to hold out against his new order" and that they will salvage their national ex~ istence only by throwing in their lot with Germany. All these things were implicit in Lavals speech.
 The significance of Hitler's moves In France at this particular time ls becoming apparent He put the screws on Marshal petaii1 and forced Laval or an unwilling France be- cause he is afraid. Reliable infor nation to the United Press is that Hitler used the same weapon ~ fear to bludgeon petair1 into sllb- inissions tlipsateniamu uxige things fug France If he held out. z
 Invgsion Fear Grows
 What fIEtler fears is invasion. Hls machinations in France coiflcided, strangely enough. with the visit io London of General George 0. Mar shall, chief of staff, and Harry ~, Hopkins to plan Allied strategy
 Hitler took over in France pos sibly 10 get control of the French fleet and quite probably to get French inanpower and French co.'s onial bases. There may have boen deeper reason. Hitler is afraid of how the people of France will respond If a British and American Expeditionary Force comes across the channel
 Unaided, the French are ificapa. ble of revolt An uprising g1oW would be crushed with tragic re. suits and would bc deeply regretted by the Allies. But when invaslcn comes nberty-1oVlng Frenchn1en who still yearn to throw off tnN German yoke would be quite likely to join the invaders. They would form fifth column far more potent than anything Hitler has been able to create.
 England Is Target
 Through Laval, Hitler Is trying to convince the French that England is their enemy. It is noteworthy in his speech that Laval accused BrlA tain of having dragged France into the war and then abandoned ller He said Britain tried to destroy the French fleet and now iH trying to devastate France from the air.
 Hitler is putting down terrorism and sabotage in France with 2 ruthless hand. Latest dispatches telling of executions Indicate that another wave of mas reprisala against innocent "hostagea naax he in the making.
 Weapon 0f TeENeK
 Hitler has another weap0N ok ters TOT against the French. He Btlll holds 1,b00O00 French prisoners Of wnr and their families at home arc aeafs full of what may be their fate Y they resist the German yoke.
 Hitler is about to launch bia military offensive against Russia ana he has to win it. That is why i1t dreaqS having c belligerent France at his back to join possible Allied invaders.
 Hitler's invasion fears are oxezt- plited by his preparations agnlliAl 1t in Belgium and Franco, Watcheks on the English coast report constant strengthening of defense works end gun efiiplacements. Now tho Belglnis government ill London reports tnAf civilians are being evacuated from the Sambre et Mouse dlgtrlel&I which are being fortified. The axGa is well inland from the sea, on alls (Continued on Page O