Germans combat French patriots
Troops sent to smash strong underground resistance
London, England (AP) –
German troops were reported today to be pressing a large-scale drive in southwestern France in an effort to smash underground resistance, described by one French collaborationist source as “a real civil war directed from abroad.”
At the same time, advices from Stockholm indicated the Germans were making desperate efforts to placate striking Danish patriots who had barricaded themselves to the streets of Copenhagen and threatened to fight to the death in protest against repressive measures.
A new and disturbing situation, meanwhile, was rising to plague the Germans at home where – according to dispatches from Madrid – some 50,000 foreign prisoners have escaped since the Allied invasion of France and are causing deep concern by their activities.
Reports from the Spanish-French frontier, relayed here by way of Madrid, said the Germans had thrown tanks and bombers as well as infantry into their drive against French patriots in the Dordogne region of southwestern France.
After two days of fighting, the Nazis were said to have recaptured Bergerac and advanced to Saint-Cyprien, where they freed 150 collaborationists who have been held as prisoners in that town. The retreating Maquis were reported to have transferred their activities 50 miles south of Bergerac, taking over the rail junction at Armande and cutting the important Cahors–Bordeaux railroad line.
An article in the Bordeaux newspaper, Petite Gironde, said authorities in southwestern France were faced with real civil war.
In Denmark, Stockholm dispatches said, the Germans last night broadcast an appeal to striking Danish patriots to return to work today.
The Germans announced that gas, water and electric services cut off in Copenhagen since the start of the strike were expected to resume today, but announced no relaxation in the 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew which has been a sore point with the Danes.
Madrid advices, quoting travelers arriving there from Germany, estimated 30,000 of the 50,000 escaped war prisoners reported at large in the Reich were Russians – many of whom had been forced into German military units and who are well-armed. They were reported moving in small groups trying to work their way out of Germany.