Re-organisation of Pacific French

Pacific French

FREE Frenchmen in Australia in support of the nion to form p Paeifie force to continue Fran op’s w*r the Axis Powers' said M Andre Brenac (representative in Australia of General de Gaulle) in a statement in Rydnev “Sun” of Januarv 6.

Th e present aim is to act together 3.00° men. well-eouipped and trained.

Unfortunately, there are not enough Frenchmen in Australia to form a sep arate force, and. unless plans are changed, they will become part of the Pacific army, comprising residents of Tahiti, New Caledonia and other islands.

“A number of applications have alreadv been received here for the force,” M. Brenac added. “At present, those men who want, to see France rise anew can either go to New Caledonia to .i°in the AIF We all regret that it will not be possible, owing to the small numbers, for the men to train in the land of their adoption, Australia,”

Naval men who wish to serve with Admiral Muselier, leader of the Free French Navy, can, however, go into almost immediate action. Arrangements have been made in Sydney for them to leave for London, where Admiral Muse lier has his head-quarters, as soon as they apply for service.

M. Brenac is calling a meeting for February to discuss the form which the Free French Movement will take in Australia. Membership will be open to Australians and subjects of occupied countries who believe in the ultimate renaissance of France.

Mr. John Rennie, who died at the Suva War Memorial Hospital recently, was well-known in Fiji. Born in New Zealand, he went to the Colony 70 years ago. He became interested in sugar plant ing and carried on the “Viti” estate on the Upper Rewa for some years before selling out to the CSR Co. Later he en gaged in banana cultivation at “Naboro” estate, near Navua; but plant disease and hurricanes hampered his efforts, Mr. Rennie then joined the Fiji Govern ment as a Works Department overseer, retiring in 1922. A widow, one son and two daughters survive him.