Four articles: German troops occupy Vichy France, Capitulation of Algeria and Morocco, the victory in Egypt, church bells to break silence

Four articles: German troops occupy Vichy France, Capitulation of Algeria and Morocco, the victory in Egypt, church bells to break silence

Article 1. Headlines: German troops occupy Vichy France, armistice agreement at end, Hitler's message to Pétain, defence against imminent allied attack. German forces enter unoccupied France to defend against allied attack. Article2. Headlines; capitulation of Algeria and Morocco, 16 axis aircraft destroyed, enemy fighters and bombers landed in Tunisia. Article 3. Headlines: the victory in Egypt, Mr Churchill's survey, axis losses 59000 ours 13600. Article 4. Headlines: Church bells to break silence, gratitude for mercies. Announces church bells would ring following Sunday to celebrate victory in Egypt.

1942-11-12

Four newspaper cuttings mounted on a scrapbook page

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12 1942

GERMAN TROOPS OCCUPY VICHY FRANCE

ARMISTICE AGREEMENT AT AN END

HITLER’S MESSAGE TO PÉTAIN

“DEFENCE AGAINST IMMINENT ALLIED ATTACK”

German forces yesterday entered Unoccupied France. In a message to Marshal Pétain, Hitler asserted that they were doing so for the purpose of defending southern France and Corsica against an imminent allied attack. The Marshal immediately protested against this violation of the armistice terms.

Crossing the demarcation line early in the morning, German troops occupied Lyons, Limoges, Agen, Pau, and Vichy itself.

Laval, who was absent in Germany when the German forces moved, later returned to Vichy and conferred with the Marshal. Our Diplomatic Correspondent points out that Hitler’s message indicated that Laval had acquiesced in a military arrangement with the Germans.

CAPITULATION OF ALGERIA AND MOROCCO

16 AXIS AIRCRAFT DESTROYED

ENEMY FIGHTERS AND BOMBERS LANDED IN TUNISIA

French forces in Algeria and Morocco capitulated yesterday morning and the first phase of the North African campaign has ended. American and British forces have occupied Bougie, 110 miles east of Algiers. Axis fighters and bombers have arrived in Tunisia.

THE VICTORY IN EGYPT

MR CHURCHILL’S SURVEY

AXIS LOSSES 59,000; OUR 13,600

CHURCH BELLS TO BREAK SILENCE

GRATITUDE FOR MERCIES

The following statement has been issued from 10, Downing Street:-

It is thought right that the church bells should be rung throughout the land next Sunday morning in celebration of the success granted to the forces of the Empire and our allies in the Battle of Egypt, and as a call to thanksgiving and to renewed prayer. Although the future of war is always full of hazards and uncertainties, nevertheless there are occasions when thanksgiving for mercies received may be offered in all humility.

After consultation with the leaders of the Churches, the Government ask that all clergy and ministers will, so far as possible, arrange for the bells in their churches to be rung before the mid-morning service next Sunday morning, November 15.

The Government ban imposed in June, 1940, on the ringing of church bells, except as a warning of enemy attack, is waived for this purpose to cover any period between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon next Sunday.