The Pittsburgh Press (December 26, 1942)
Giraud pledges big army and de Gaulle cooperation
By Walter Logan, United Press staff writer
About the time Adm. Jean François Darlan was assassinated Christmas Eve, Gen. Henri Honoré Giraud, Commander-in-Chief of the French fighting forces in North Africa, gave a United Press correspondent an exclusive interview pledging cooperation or actual consolidation with the Fighting French. With Darlan’s death, Gen. Giraud became French leader in Africa.
Allied HQ, North Africa – (Dec. 24, delayed)
Gen. Henri Honoré Giraud, heroic leader of the French fighting forces in North Africa, pledged himself today to work for cooperation or consolidation with the Fighting French.
He promised the Allies a French African army of 300,000 men and a fleet which would include the squadrons at Alexandria, Egypt, and elsewhere.
Gen. Giraud said he expected by January to be receiving from the United States the planes and tanks which the French need above all to take their full part in a fight in which he proposes to take his army along with those of the Allies into Europe for final victory.
Asked if there was any comment he would like to make regarding the political situation in France or Africa, he replied:
I am a soldier.
Then in a special message to America, he appealed for the arms which France “so desperately” needs and said that America would be shown that the French Army, using those arms, would be able to advance the day of Allied victory.
He said:
France has the fullest confidence in America. I pray that America will have the same confidence in France.
Gen. Giraud took out time from his endless military duties, which include not only the active direction of the French forces now fighting beside the Allies in Tunisia but the organization of a new and powerful army, to write down himself in blue pencil the answers to questions submitted by the United Press.
Replies to questions
The questions and Gen. Giraud’s replies follow:
Is the spirit of the French troops in North Africa as high as it always has been in the past – and in the war of 1914?
Yes.
How many French troops can Northwest Africa put into action?
300,000.
Are French troops coming from the Dakar region as well as North Africa and other parts of the world?
Reply reserved [Gen. Giraud wrote a question mark beside this question].
How soon do you expect equipment from the United States and what type of equipment is preferred?
January – Airplanes and tanks.
The French Army has always been famous for its artillery. Is artillery a prime requisite and are not the French in Tunisia now using their artillery to exceedingly good advantage?
Yes.
How about fighting planes? We saw the Lafayette Escadrille flying [American Curtiss] P-40 planes. Are they pleased with the performance of these planes? Are important French flying units at present in action or do they expect to be soon?
Most certainly. We shall appreciate still more of the newest types of fighters.
Will the French forces be ready to fight beside the Allies in the invasion of Europe?
Yes.
Regarding strategy, without revealing military information, can you say whether it would please the troops more to invade Italy or France? In the event of an invasion of France would you not expect full cooperation from the people of France? How about the people of Italy?
Reply reserved [Gen. Giraud wrote another question mark opposite this question].
Do your plans call for cooperation with or consolidation with the forces of Gen. Charles de Gaulle?
Most certainly.
The process of obtaining the interview left no room for doubt that it had the full authority of Allied leaders. The questions were first referred to the French intelligence, which in turn submitted them to Gen. Giraud’s close collaborators.
The collaborators ordered the intelligence to examine the authenticity of my credentials. Then Gen. Giraud sat down and wrote his replies. He submitted his replies to his aides, who submitted them to the intelligence. Then U.S. and British censors were called in to approve them, and the interview was issued through Allied headquarters.