ST. PIERRE: Yesterday the 350-strong population was given a Christmas present - the vote.
Free French sailors under Admiral Muselier, the chief of the Free French navy, landed on this cold, windswept left-over from France's North American empire, and on its neighbour, Miquelon. Within an hour the Vichy governor, Baron de Bournat, and the island's only known fascist, Henri Moraze, were arrested. Shortly afterwards, the island's men were herded into the town hall to vote to remain with Vichy or join de Gaulle. The result: 98% for de Gaulle. | FREE FRENCH SEIZE ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON; WAKE LOST AFTER 14-DAY STAND BY TINY FORCE (12/25/41) | Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 12/25/41 | Ira Wolfert, Charles Hurd, Hanson W. Baldwin | Posted on 12/25/2011 5:00:40 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson | 5 posted on 12/25/2011 5:11:50 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
One of the great untold stories of WWII right in our backyard.