Evening star., 1945-07-31

Va : CtdAli, CIlOlIlk WIFI tllccc WI OS =
when could we have plotted to
overthrow the government"
The general. who had been chief
Of staff to Marshal Foch, related
events leading to the French col
lapse:
ION May 20, I conversed with
military leaders and decided to leave
the next day for the front. Rey-
maud asked me to communicate with
them every morning at II am.
"On May Il, I saw King Leopold
Of Belgium and Gen. Billottee. ]
tried to convince Leopold to with
draw towards the west in order to
maintain contact with the Allied
armies.
"On May "a, reported to Rey-
maud and Petain on my trip. This
was followed by q supreme wal
council meeting attended by Prime
Minister Churchill. The council ap-
proved my plan Of action"
Tells of Leopold's Capitulation.
Weygand read minutes OF that
meeting, showing that even then
the armistice was being discussed
Lebrun's comments were included.
Weygand recalled that Leopold
capitulated on May as and that the
British fell back toward the north
On May 10, Weygand said he wrote
Reynaud that the armies were night
ing furiously but that the high COM
mand should look ahead" He
gave no explanation of that con-
notation.
Weygand said he warned Rey-
maud that the time might arrive
when German superiority in ma
teriel would put the French Army
in . position of being unable to
assure the defense Of French terri
tory"
Reynaud then informed him of
the plan to withdraw into "A fixed
redoubt in Brittany" on May 40
and then to North Africa.
This was the first time the gov
eminent informed me of its inten-
ton to fight In Brittany and from
North Africa" the supreme COM
mander said.
Lacked Adequate Supplies.
A general counterattack was op-
ened June S along the entire
Somme- -Aisne-Maginot front. Wey-
gand said, however, that French
troops were lighting with insuf1i-
cient materiel" and had been in ac-
ton continuously since May 10. He
said "a Belgian divisions had been
lost In the north along with nine
British and "A French infantry and
six French armored divisions.
Our best units were lost in the
north, our very best divisions, the
iron tip OF our land" he recounted.
Regarding aviation, he said:
I'VE began the battle with $50
fighters and so modern bombers.
We succumbed under the weight OF
the enemy"
Paul said he was a member of
the underground during the occu-
patton. He said the worst blows
against the patriot resistance or.
ganization were struck by the
Vichy police at Petain's orders.
Lower Seine Menaced.
by June Z things began to 60
badly" Weygand said, "the Germans
were making deep penetrations. The
following day the German advance
seriously menaced the Lower Seine"
The general said he was in con-
stant touch with Reynaud and in
formed the Premier of each develop
ment.
Il still hoped for a psychological
moment Of battle to the last quarter
hour" he recalled. IT met Reynaud.
He was no longer with me-"
Weygand said Reynaud had begun
thinking Of "symbolical gestures
such as American aid and q Brit
tany redoubt.
But gentlemen, you don't win
battles with symbolic gestures" the
soldier declared.
Troops Dead Tired.
BY June II, the Germans crossed
the Seine. The question Of defend
ing Paris arose. Weygand said:
Paris was menaced from all sides.
Troops were dead tired. decided
to declare Paris an open city be-
cause my duty as commander in
chief did not demand useless sacri-
fees in q defense which could not
succeed"
Again the supreme war council
was called, and Churchill came to
participate.
"The minutes Of the supreme
war council meeting are points
along the Calvary we mounted te
reach that cross that was the Armi-
stice," Weygand told the court. He
said Churchill expressed admiration
for French resistance, "but he re.
gretted that the British Army coulC
not participate more fully"
Wegand said both Reynaud an6
Churchill praised his operations.
Churchill realized, although moth.
Ing was said, that we had reached
4 4 n A