WesWorld

August 12
The new commander-in-chief of the French Navy, Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul, announced that the 1st Division de Croiseurs and the 10th Flotilla Torpillieurs will be redeployed to Cam Ranh Bay in October. The cruiser Nouvelle Caledonie, part of the 1st Cruiser Division, will be replaced by the new Temeraire, which shall be transferred from the Atlantic Fleet. It is believed that the redeployment is due in part to China's increased naval growth. The largest ships currently deployed in Indochina are the aging Petain class coast defense ships.

August 14 - La Croix
Colas Group's Société Anonyme pour la Construction et l'Entretien des Routes (SACER) reported substantial completion of the first major section of the A5 Autoroute between Metz and Saarbrucken. Completion of the A5 between Paris and Metz is scheduled for the late summer of 1943.

August 17
The French destroyers Bienfaisant and Entreprenant arrived today at the Irish port of Cobh on a port call. After leaving Cobh, they will cruise to Dublin before returning to Brest.

August 18
Dunkerque and Strasbourg arrived at the American port of Miami today on the final leg of their extended training cruise. The two battlecruisers will be open to the public for several days before their planned departure on the 24th.

August 21
The Max Holste MH.52 two-seat touring plane conducted its first flight near Reims.

August 24
Dunkerque and Strasbourg departed Miami today, returning to their base at Brest.

August 27
Reporters were ushered through the Bloch factory at Argenteuil today to see the country's first jet aircraft, the MB.1000 Triton, under construction. Three airframes were visible but incomplete at the plant. It is expected that they will be fitted with engines and could fly before the end of the year.



August 29
The French Agricultural Ministry has announced the hiring of Mr. Norman Borlaug, an American, to conduct research into food grains in Algeria.

[SIZE=3]Special Article: Dogs of War[/SIZE]
Article from Le Spectateur militaire.

For many years, humans have trained animals to assist and ease their labors. Dogs, dubbed 'man's best friend', have been no exception, being trained for companionship, hunting, carrying loads, and alerting their masters to danger. Many of the dog's capabilities, including keen senses not as finely developed in humans, make them important participants in modern war.

French Army War Dogs
Although the French Army has used dogs in warfare since at least the 1200s, the current Service des Chiens de Guerre (French War Dog Service) was not founded until 1914 with the opening of the Great War. Under the leadership of the tireless Sergeant Paul Megnin, the French Army incorporated increasing numbers of war dogs in a great variety of roles. By the end of the Great War in 1917, the French War Dog Service fielded more war dogs than all the other Allies combined. Although numbers have declined through the Twenties and Thirties, the Service des Chiens de Guerre remains one of the largest and best organized trainers of military working dogs. The Service maintains a training school at Camp Satory, south of Versailles, where both dogs and their handlers are trained.

Many breeds are currently used by the SCG, but several are preferred. German Shepherd dogs, which have started appearing in the Service, are among the most favored, having an almost ideal blend of the necessary traits desired in a war dog. Many German Shepherds, trained as war dogs by the Germans, were captured during the Great War, and re-trained to heed Allied handlers. The Belgian Malinois, Farm Collie, and Doberman Pinscher are also a prime breeds.

Duties
The primary use of military working dogs has been in sentry duty, where dogs can sniff out approaching enemy troops and alert their handlers. Dogs can be trained to attack interlopers on command. Many of the war dogs trained at Satory are intended for these sorts of duties.

During the Great War, dogs were trained to run messages back and forth between units. This task is uniquely suited for a dog, as it can run faster than a human, and has a lower and thus harder-to-hit silhouette. The Service des Chiens de Guerre organized messenger dogs into two different types: the Estafette, and the Liaison Dog. Estafettes were trained to run messages to a unit, but Liaison dogs were trained to return back. This necessitated training the dog to recognize at least two handlers.

For protecting vital installations such as bases and factories, the Service des Chiens de Guerre also trained enclosure dogs, who were released in a fenced area to attack any individuals trying to sneak in. Many enclosure dogs can be trained in under two weeks, making them cost-effective assistants to patrolling soldiers.

One of the most difficult tasks a dog can be trained for is tracking, as well as alerting their handlers to ambushes. This necessitates extensive training lasting three months. When training is complete, dogs can be used to track escaped prisoners or enemy troops across difficult terrain. They can also use their sense of smell to alert their handlers to potential enemy attacks or ambushes. Dogs may also be trained to sniff out and locate explosives, such as mines.

Humanitarian duties are not neglected, either. Dogs can scent injured soldiers, leading medical personnel back to their location. In times of natural disaster, these dogs can also alert rescuers to civilians buried in snow, or trapped in collapsed buildings.

On the Battlefield
One of the greatest difficulties in the use of war dogs is preparing the human commanders to recognize the capabilities they can offer. In field exercises at the company level, officers are given the opportunity to work with dogs and their handlers in simulated combat conditions, often against opposition troops.

During the Rif-Atlas War, nearly three hundred war dogs were deployed as part of the efforts to subdue the Berber rebels. In one particular example, French troops were sweeping the city of Sefrou for enemy troops. Two war dogs, Azelma and Toussaint, alerted their handlers and led them to an empty house. Digging beneath the loose tiles of the floor, the soldiers found six hundred stolen French rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition. In another incident, two Berber leaders fled into the mountains to escape French forces, leaving behind their laundry. A dog and handler, as well as a platoon of the Chasseurs Parachutistes, used the scent on the clothing to track the leaders for five days into the Atlas Mountains, until they found and captured the two Berbers in a mountain cave.

One of the emerging theaters for the use of war dogs is Southeast Asia, where the extensive jungle lowers visibility to mere meters in places. In this environment, war dogs can scent approaching enemy forces, often over a kilometer away, and direct their handlers to prepare for battle. All the forces deployed in Indochina, from the regular French Army, to the Forces de sécurité territoriaux, and the Légion étrangère, have increasingly included war dogs in their organization.

Summary
Unless human-produced machines can replace the skills and loyalty of a trained military working dog, there is little likelihood that even in this age of increasing mechanization of warfare, the war dogs of the Service des Chiens de Guerre will still have have an important place in the French Army.

Another interesting illumination of a neglected field. Most enlightening.

Thanks.

Doing some research into it was very interesting. I'd not known that the French and the Belgians actually had organized most of the military dog services for the Allies. The British, Americans, and Russians used war dogs as well, but it was to a much more limited degree.

One of the odd things I found during my research was that many of the French war dogs were trained to deliver packs of cigarettes to men in the trenches. They also delivered food, and in one notable case, a war dog delivered two messenger pigeons.

September 2
Preparations are underway for both the October Paris Motor Show and November's Paris Air Show. (If anyone wants to send anything, tell me now.)

September 8
The Grand Prix des Nations cycling race began today.

September 11
Performance artist Ulrich von Liechtenstein opened an unauthorized exhibition of living statues today on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The Police said they would not shut the exhibit down unless it impeded traffic or mocked the French Police.

September 17
The heavy cruiser Téméraire departed Brest for Southeast Asia, where she will take up duties as the flagship of the newly-formed Force opérationnelle Indochine. Along with Téméraire, this task force will include the four heavy destroyers of the 10th Flotilla Torpilleurs and the heavy cruiser Indochine.

September 21
Le Lit à colonnes opened in French movie theaters, staring Fernand Ledoux (Porey-Cave), Odette Joyeux (), and Jean Marais (Rémi). The movie is based on a novel by Louise de Vilmorin.

September 24
Jean-Jacques Barre's EA 1941 rocket ran today at 655 kgf for 11 seconds in a full-duration test run. Monsieur Barre believes the missile is ready for flight test at the new Biscarosse rocketry range. Test launches are scheduled to begin soon.

[SIZE=3]Stage One[/SIZE]
Consists of an offshore course of pylons between Marseilles and Toulon. The team will set a measured speed prior to the race, and will then try to complete the circuit as close as possible to that average speed.

Each team set an average time around the 167km long course. After setting an average time, the teams formed up again and flew the course a second time, trying to come as close as possible to their original time. The team with the time closest to their original won the stage. The French set the overall fastest time of 22:53, but the Germans and Argentines found the precision flying to their liking. The Yugoslavians, although flying the slowest aircraft, similarly performed well. Unfortunately, due to a quirk of navigation, the British wandered off course south of Toulon, and pushed hard to make up lost time. This proved to be a mistake, as they arrived back at the finish line too soon. The French, by contrast, flew a very leisurely second lap until they realized they were running behind, whereupon they pushed their throttles open and crossed the finish line at 675kph. This thrilled the spectators, but forced them into sixth place.

Quoted

Scores:
1st: Marine Jagd-sfaffel 141, Germany (Focke Wulf Fw190M) set a standard time of 26:06 and completed their second lap at +8 seconds.
2nd: Grupo Jaguar, Argentina (FMA I-02II Pulqui) set a standard time of 24:34 and completed their second lap at -12 seconds.
3rd: The Golden Hawks, Yugoslavia (Soko Jastreb) set a standard time of 29:03 and completed their second lap at -19 seconds.
4th: Flying Leathernecks, USA (F4U) set a standard time of 24:53 and completed their second lap at -24 seconds.
5th: The Smoking Snakes, Brazil (EMB-F42 Tornado II) set a standard time of 23:51 and completed their second lap at +26 seconds.
6th: Groupe Rafale, France (Arsenal VB.20 Rafale) set a standard time of 22:53 and completed their second lap at +38 seconds.
7th: Blue Impulse, Japan (Kanzaki A7K1) set a standard time of 25: 42 and completed their second lap at -44 seconds.
8th: RAF Exhibition Flight, Britain (Spitfire F.Mk.IV) set a standard time of 25:27 and completed their second lap at -54 seconds.

[SIZE=3]Stage Two[/SIZE]
Pilots will receive a measured quantity of ammunition, and will shoot at a towed target sleeve. The team will receive points based on the percentage of hits on the target sleeve.

This stage, held at Dijon Air Base, allowed the teams to practice shooting against target sleeves towed by trainers of the Armee de l'Aire. It was not without incident, as one of the British pilots, Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Allard, made several firing runs with jammed guns. He flew back to the airfield and the judges determined he could try again later in the day once his guns were fixed. Particularly high scores were achieved by Argentine Major de Aero Enrique Vasques and German Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Hoffmann.

Quoted

Scores:
1st: Grupo Jaguar, Argentina (FMA I-02II Pulqui): 59%, 90%, 99%, 86%, 88%, 51%. Averaged 78.8% accuracy.
2nd: The Golden Hawks, Yugoslavia (Soko Jastreb): 92%, 69%, 79%, 80%, 61%, 58%. Averaged 73.16% accuracy.
3rd: Flying Leathernecks, USA (F4U): 59%, 73%, 69%, 88%. Averaged 72.25% accuracy.
4th: RAF Exhibition Flight, Britain (Spitfire F.Mk.IV): 94%, 62%, 65%, 71%, 63%, 66%. Averaged 70.17% accuracy.
5th: Groupe Rafale, France (Arsenal VB.20 Rafale): 96%, 67%, 67%, 57%, 57%. Averaged 68.8% accuracy.
6th: Blue Impulse, Japan (Kanzaki A7K1): 79%, 82%, 62%, 61%, 61%, 64%. Averaged 68.17% accuracy.
7th: Marine Jagd-sfaffel 141, Germany (Focke Wulf Fw190M): 61%, 52%, 60%, 75%, 99%, 51%. Averaged 66.3% accuracy.
8th: The Smoking Snakes, Brazil (EMB-F42 Tornado II): 54%, 51%, 81%, 77%. Averaged 65.75% accuracy.

[SIZE=3]Stage Three[/SIZE]
This consists of an aerobatic competition to be judged by a panel of twelve observers selected by lot. Judges awarded between 1 and 10 points for each routine.

The aerobatic competition was held at Vélizy-Villacoublay Air Base, near Paris, and attracted a very large crowd of over a hundred and fifty thousand people. Each of the teams was scheduled an opportunity to perform a series of aerobatic maneuvers in a fifteen-minute show. Twelve judges, picked at random, evaluated the teams for the difficulty of their routine and the precision of their formation flying. The Argentines, already showing a lack of practice as a result of their long trip to Europe, suffered from bad luck when Major de Aero Horatio Cisco mistook radio directions and turned in the opposite direction from the rest of the formation. The Brazilians, Yugoslavians, and American Marines similarly showed some relatively loose flying. The German team performed a very well-orchestrated routine, but lost points as the judges did not believe they had arranged a very difficult routine. However, the French, British, and Japanese teams shone in this stage, all performing a series of very difficult maneuvers with exacting precision. When the final points tally emerged, all three had finished extremely close in points, with the French and Japanese teams tied.

By a mutual agreement between Capitaine la Meslée and Captain Fuchida, the French and Japanese teams refueled and staged a fly-off, performing a series of maneuvers requested by the judges. In this fly-off, the French team won by the narrowest of margins (0.1 point). According to the agreement, the French and Japanese both received full points in this stage, and the fly-off merely determined the winner of the aerobatic stage trophy.

Quoted

Scores:
1st: (Tied)
- Groupe Rafale (France): 9.583 + 9.592 flyoff
- Blue Impulse (Japan): 9.583 + 9.492 flyoff
3rd: RAF Exhibition Flight (Britain): 9.525
4th: Marine Jagd-sfaffel 141 (Germany): 8.517
5th: Flying Leathernecks (USA): 6.592
6th: The Smoking Snakes (Brazil): 6.550
7th: The Golden Hawks (Yugoslavia): 6.517
8th: Grupo Jaguar (Argentina): 5.733

[SIZE=3]Final Scores[/SIZE]
For placing first in a stage, a team received eight points; for second place, seven points; for third place, six points; and so on.

The total of points from each of the three stages:

Grupo Jaguar (Argentina): 16
Groupe Rafale (France): 15
Marine Jagd-sfaffel 141 (Germany): 15
Flying Leathernecks (USA): 15
The Golden Hawks (Yugoslavia): 15
Blue Impulse (Japan): 13
RAF Exhibition Flight (Britain): 12
The Smoking Snakes (Brazil): 8

This resulted in a four-way tie for second place. There were three suggestions on how to solve this tie.
- The US Marines offered to play Rock-Paper-Scissors, but the French didn't think that would be good for the physical health of the other three teams.
- The French wanted to start a drinking contest to see who could remain upright the longest, but then they retracted that solution because they thought the Germans might win.
- Someone suggested a game of poker, but they couldn't find enough fish.

In the end, one of the British pilots worked out some maths.
- The Germans placed higher than the Yugoslavians in two of the three events.
- The French placed higher than the Germans in two of the three events.
- The Americans placed higher than the French in two of the three events.

Therefore, the US won second, the French won third, the Germans won fourth, and Yugoslavians won fifth.

[SIZE=3]Awards[/SIZE]
Overall
- The Chevaliers Trophy: Grupo Jaguar (Argentina).
Stages
- The Precision Flying Trophy: Marine Jagd-sfaffel 141 (Germany).
- The Gunnery Trophy: Grupo Jaguar (Argentina).
- The Aerobatics Trophy: Groupe Rafale (France).
Other
- The Golden Gunsight Trophy (Best Marksman): shared by Major de Aero Enrique Vasques (Argentina) and Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Hoffmann (Germany).
- The Best Paint Scheme for an Airplane: Blue Impulse (Japan).
- The Fuzzy Boa of Consolation: The Smoking Snakes (Brazil).
- The Fighting Pipsqueak Ribbon: The Golden Hawks (Yugoslavia) for going toe to toe with larger air forces and still doing well.
- The Crowd's Favorite Pennant: RAF Exhibition Flight (Britain) for having the sexiest airplanes.

Interesting to see that France, Japan and Britain are worst in the 1st event, in the middle during the second event and best in the third.

Quoted

In the end, one of the British pilots worked out some maths.

Hmm... I feel kind of insulted you know.

Quoted

Originally posted by Rooijen10

Quoted

In the end, one of the British pilots worked out some maths.

Hmm... I feel kind of insulted you know.

Well, if the Dutch had shown up, I could have attributed an anonymous Dutchman...

*curses the Dutch for not sending a team*

Quoted

due to a quirk of navigation, the British wandered off course south of Toulon

I did not know Manzo was flying for the British.

The Argentine Nation erupts with joy at such success of our fine, gallant and skilled pilots.
The Defence Minister wires a congratulations telegram to the Grupo Jaguar immediately.

FMA buys up advertising space in several major European aviation journals proclaiming the FMA-02II to be the greatest fighter in the world.

The Chevaliers Trophy, The Gunnery Trophy and The Golden Gunsight Trophy (half or a copy therefore!) will take their places beside the Talons over Cordoba trophies in the display case on the ground floor of the Air Force Building in Cordoba.

***

Britain raises a few eyebrows over breakfast at the news in the papers and then goes on eating its kippers and eggs and bacon.
Meanwhile at the Air Ministry questions are asked (Why did the guns jam so badly? and How on earth can a skilled pilot get lost?).

The Crowd's Favorite Pennant will be displayed at RAF Cranwell and will be on show at the Hendon Air Display and the next SBAC Farnborough Show.

Meanwhile Vickers-Supermarine takes advert slots in all major European aviation magzines proclaiming they have the world's best looking fighter.

***

PS. Thanks for running a good show Brock.

Quoted

FMA buys up advertising space in several major European aviation journals proclaiming the FMA-02II to be the greatest fighter in the world.

I would guess that the people of the world are smarter than that. Considering the setup of the competition, Sopwith Camels could easily beat the Argentine team if the pilots were good enough. It's not about the plane, but the skills of the pilots...

... and when it mattered, the Argentines were rubbish. *runs for cover*

September 22
Official statement of the Republic of France to the League of Nations:

Quoted

The Empire of China has stated their intent to withdraw from the League of Nations, mimicking the move by the government of Bharat. The French government denounces this action. Although both China and India have stated their objection to the makeup of the League, and their lack of participation among the Permanent Members, I must call attention to the complete and utter hypocrisy of this spurious position. Not once in their many years of membership in the League of Nations has either China or India made any request, any motion whatsoever to propose alternatives to the composition of the League. No official complaint about its organization has ever been voiced. This withdrawal is no principled stand of nations seeking equivalence with their counterparts, but a mere childish tirade by two nations which have, in the past, attempted to use the League to justify their own imperialistic ends. China claims that military strength is the only arbiter of a nation's presence in the Permanent Members, but this is an absolute lie. China has a larger standing military than any of the League's permanent members - nay, any two of them combined. And unsatisfied with that, China continues to arm and purchase new military equipment and raise more divisions. India's significant military strength is well-known as well, as one of the largest and most battle-tested armies in the last fifteen years, by which they've won for themselves an empire.

No, the Permanent Membership is not adjudicated by military strength. The Permanent Members are instead the founders of the League, the visionaries of its mission, and the most consistent adherents to the League's principles. Neither China nor India have become Permanent Members because neither of them have acted in the manner befitting a Permanent Member. Neither have shown any interest in becoming one.

Make no mistake, gentlemen. This is just another ploy by China and India in their cold war against the supposed evils of European imperialism. By making a dramatic departure from the League, with high language and noble-sounding overtures to peace, hope, and fluffy bunnies, India and China hope to score a moral blow against the ideals of the League of Nations. We are not fooled. China or India never once made overtures to change the League. They've simply invented the most compelling-sounding excuse to leave, a clever soundbite for the radios and newspapers.

Having thus withdrawn from the League, India and China have spurned the collaborative efforts of some of the League's most important projects. They have ended cooperation with the world on the Permanent Central Opium Board. They have ended cooperation with the Slavery Commission. They have terminated their participation to prevent the Trafficking in Women and Children. They've withdrawn from agreements giving oversight on intellectual collaboration, health, assistance for refugees, and labor. And most important of all, they have spurned the League's primary mission - preventing another world war through the efforts of international diplomacy.

By their departure, India and China have signaled their adherence to the previous principle - that might shall be the sole adjudicator of international disputes. Let us all hope, for the peace of the world, that their leaders do not choose to put this principle into effect.

And a later statement:

Quoted

With China's statement withdrawing their claim to the disputed Paracel Islands, the French government moves that the Iberian mandate of the Paracels, held while the League adjudicated their ownership, be terminated and the islands officially transferred to the sole remaining claimant, Indochina.

[SIZE=1]Cross-posted to the League of Nations folder.[/SIZE]