New Vehicles Begin to Equip Army - La Croix, Thursday, July 5, 1945
Examples of the new Hotchkiss VLD (Véhicule léger de Découverte) scout car began arriving in numbers, equipping reconnaissance elements of the 2e Division Blindée. Hotchkiss has received a contract for three and a half thousand VLD scout cars. The Armee de Terre additionally confirmed it planned to place an order for approximately five to eight hundred tank destroyers within the next twenty-four months, according to a design proposed by AMX.
Preparations Underway for Plebiscite - Gia Dinh Bao, Wednesday, July 11, 1945
Pro-independence and pro-Union groups have begun to ratchet up their campaign rhetoric for the coming October 21st Plebiscite regarding the possibility of independence from France. The pro-independence parties present an impressive amount of fervor, although rumors are growing about foreign funding arriving in the coffers of leading independence groups.
Rain Falls on Bastille Day Celebrations - Le Figaro, Saturday, July 14, 1945
Despite a fine misty rain that fell all day in Paris, large crowds celebrated Bastille Day. Celebrations elsewhere in the country continued without any interruptions.
Marine Nationale Awards Ships for Battle-Readiness - La Croix, Wednesday, July 18, 1945
The Prix pour la haute Préparation de la flotte ("Award for High Preparation in the Fleet") was awarded to Le Malin (Mediterranean Fleet), Barfleur (Atlantic Fleet), and Téméraire (Forces Outre-Mer).
Carrousel de Saumur - L'Union, Saturday, July 21, 1945
Visitors to this year's Carrousel de Saumur shall be treated to the world's largest exhibition of armoured vehicles, ranging from the museum's collection of Great War tanks (such as Renault FT and Mark I Male) to the modern, including the Char-8A4 Montbrun, the Char-13 Masséna, and the never-before-seen in the west Ob'yekt 136 from Russia. Also presented for the first time to the press is the new CDC-12 tank destroyer.
Change of Power in Syria - Agence Havas, Thursday, July 26, 1945
Prime Minister Saadallah al-Jabiri stepped down today after losing the National Bloc party majority in the Syrian Parliament. The parliament, now dominated by the League of Nationalist Action, quickly appointed their party chief, Khalid al-Hafiz, as Prime Minister. Despite the shift in power, National Bloc leader Shukri al-Quatli remains as president of Syria.
Renault Increases Productivity, Foreign Ties - Le Temps, Wednesday, August 1, 1945
Renault announced a major new initiative in the Billancourt plant to drive down costs and manufacturing time through the process of raising quality. The initiative is designed to increase the number of automobiles produced in the plant. Additionally, Renault approved Russian associate MZMA's request to sell the licensed 4CV (manufactured in Russia as the Moskvitch) in Poland, through MZMA opening a new plant in Lublin for final assembly. Renault agreed to provide twenty million francs of funding for the new Lublin factory, as well as an unspecified quantity of manufacturing equipment.
Colonial Governors Recommend Opposing ACPE Growth - Les Échos, Thursday, August 9, 1945
The governors of Cote d'Ivoire, Cote d'Or, and Guiana sent an open letter to President Theisman and Prime Minister Monnerville, requesting that they oppose the further expansion of the Accord commercial paneuropéen to include the Dutch 'colonies', as currently discussed as part of the joint customs union plan. The proposed expansion, the letter explained, would result in the French colonies seeing greater competition from the Dutch fiefdoms and the loss of their heretofore privileged status within the trade organization.
5e Division d'Infanterie Completes Modernization - L'Est Républicain, Tuesday, August 14, 1945
The 5e Division d'Infanterie, headquartered in Nancy, completed its transition to a mechanized infantry division today, being the last of the Class A divisions of the Armee de Terre to receive its armoured components.
Byblos Syllabary Published - Science et Vie, Thursday, August 16, 1945
Maurice Dunand's monograph, Byblia Grammata, began to reach the hands of archaeological experts the world over today, describing Dunand's longtime work excavating the ancient city of Byblos in Lebanon. Included in this work is the Byblos Syllabary, an as-yet untranslated ancient alphabet.
Hotchkiss Artois to be at Berlin Auto Show - Le Temps, Saturday, September 1, 1945
Hotchkiss et Cie confirmed that their upcoming Artois would make its second public appearance next week at the Berlin Auto Show.
Major Exercises Begin for Atlantic Fleet, Indian Ocean Squadron - Le Matin, Tuesday, September 4, 1945
The Atlantic Fleet and the Indian Ocean Squadron began their annual fleet exercises, Exercise Hercule 45, today in their respective areas of operation. The Mediterranean Fleet and the Pacific Fleet shall begin Exercise Hercule beginning next Monday, while the Force d'Action Naval shall wait for their own fleet maneuvers, Exercise Spartiate 45, in October.
New Construction in La Défense - Les Échos, Tuesday, September 18, 1945
Crews broke ground today for the new 120-meter tall Tour Aurore in the growing La Défense business district. When completed in early 1949, the tower will possibly serve as the world headquarters for Schlumberger (Société de prospection électrique), which has expressed an interest in moving to the new La Défense district. Tour Aurore is the sixth major skyscraper under construction in burgeoning La Défense, which stands poised to become the economic centre of France.
Chinese Force Down Indochinese Aircraft - Gia Dinh Bao Morning Edition, Saturday, September 29, 1945
A spokesman for the Indochinese Air Defense Group (GDAI) alleged in an emergency press conference Tuesday morning that the Chinese Air Force had forced down and seized a transport aircraft engaged in a training flight late yesterday evening. The aircraft, a four-engined Breguet-Nord N.1510 Normandie transport, was flying out of Da Nang with six crew and five passengers aboard.
According to the GDAI's brief statement, the pilot reported by radio that Chinese fighters intercepted the Normandie off Formosa and ordered him to divert to a Chinese airfield.
The Indochinese Foreign Ministry, as well as Indochinese Governor-General Truong Van Bao, have made no comment as of press time.
French Air Force Transport Shot Down by China - Agence Havas Morning Release, Saturday, September 29, 1945
HANOI - The French Air Force confirmed that a Breguet-Nord N.1510 four engine transport aircraft was machine-gunned by Chinese aircraft and forced to land in Formosa. "The aircraft in question was engaged in a training flight between Da Nang and Vladivostok, with a crew drawn primarily from the Indochinese Air Defense Group," Armee de l'Aire spokesman Gustave Philbert reported. "The aircraft commander, Captain Nguyen Loc, reported by radio that Chinese aircraft intercepted the plane and fired machine guns into it, then ordered him to land in Formosa. As a result of damage to the aircraft, Captain Loc was forced to comply."
Philbert revealed that the aircraft, although owned by the French Air Force, is one of several Normandies officially on loan to the Indochinese Air Defense Group, pending the delivery of the GDAI's own aircraft, expected in October. The crew, commanded by Captain Loc and supervised by two French Air Force officers, was undertaking certification for long overseas flights. Philbert added that Armee de l'Aire transports regularly fly between Da Nang and Vladivostok on transport or training missions every few weeks, flying over the ocean to avoid Chinese national airspace, following the same flight path as Air France aircraft bound to Japan or the Russian Far East.
In Hanoi, Governor-General Truong Van Bao, in a statement to the Indochinese press, condemned the interception and demanded an immediate explanation from Beijing. No official comments have been received at the present time from the Chinese government.