Summary
Monday, October 2, 1944
In a letter to the Catholic daily newspaper
La Croix, French bishop Father Charles Ulliel attacked President Theisman for his September 26th comments to
L'Express. Father Ulliel's letter charged that Theisman 'advocated for the common man to interpret Scriptures for themselves', rather than depending upon the Church to interpret for the common man.
Tuesday, October 3, 1944
The cruisers
Jean Bart and
Jeanne d'Arc arrived today in the Atlantean port of Illisus, on the island of Lyra, where they will spend a six-day port call before heading to Rio de Janeiro.
Thursday, October 5, 1944
French scientists working for the
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique successfully achieved a "man-made, sustained nuclear reaction" in a reactor vessel. The official announcement did not disclose the date this event was achieved, nor the location of the reactor.
Friday, October 6, 1944
Thich Anh Hung, the Indochinese Minister of Health and Education, announced today his retirement from public service. Thich's public service in Indochina dates back to 1931. Although Thich's age and health likely has sped his departure from government service, he has also been one of the loudest proponents of both socialism and Indochinese independence and in Governor-General Van Bao's cabinet. His replacement as Minister of Health and Education will almost certainly be his deputy, Van Tuan Loan, a moderate.
Saturday, October 7, 1944
Rateau Anxionnaz began bench-testing a modified A.63 turbojet engine designed to operate with a bypass fan.
Monday, October 9, 1944
Jean Bart and
Jeanne d'Arc depart Illisus.
Tuesday, October 10, 1944
The new and luxurious train ferry
St. Germaine, leader of a three-ship class of ships entering service with the
Societe Nouvelle d'Armement Transmanche, departed Dunkerque for the British port of Dover. The new ships will speed travel between Britain and France and improve competitiveness with international airline travel.
Thursday, October 12, 1944
The Bolloré group of Puteaux confirmed rumors that it had reached an agreement with the Syrian government to help fund and construct an oil pipeline from Kirkuk to Baniyas, in Syria, where a marine loading terminal will be constructed. An official agreement between the Syrian and Iraqi governments is expected by late November, and work on the loading terminal in Syria will begin shortly.
Saturday, October 14, 1944
Father Charles Ulliel, a senior bishop in the Roman Catholic Church in France, defended his October 2nd letter to
La Croix where he criticized President Theisman for his belief that the common man could interpret Scripture without the aid of the Catholic Church. The bishop emphasized that his position is based in strong church tradition and has received the support of Rome. Father Ulliel noted that he had seen 'an incredible backlash' against his comments, which he attributed to 'communists, atheists, and protestants' in France.
Monday, October 16, 1944
The Indochina Governing Council today met for six hours in closed session to discuss security issues relating to the ongoing war in northeast Asia. Although the discussions were held under a rule of parliamentary silence, the Governing Council is reportedly weighing an offer by an 'unnamed European government' to lease Con Son island for the creation of a naval patrol station, similar to the long-term lease held by the Russian and French governments at Cam Ranh Bay.
Tuesday, October 17, 1944
The cruisers
Jean Bart and
Jeanne d'Arc arrived in the Brazilian port of Rio de Janeiro, where they will remain in a port call for the next six days before making a short stop in Montevideo. After that, they will move onward to make port calls in Argentina and Chile before crossing the Pacific to their new home station.
Wednesday, October 18, 1944 -
Le Canard enchaîné
What the Bird Has to Say: A pair of dueling editorials discuss the ramifications of the recent announcement by the CEA's success at generating a sustained man-made nuclear reaction. One article condemns the move as the brainchild of the 'militaristic right-wing capitalists in Paris', while the other article lauds the government for prioritizing development of inexpensive electricity sources for proletariat working class.
Thursday, October 19, 1944
The naval transport
Téthys departed Toulon this morning carrying coastal artillery bound for the Indochinese coast. Included amongst the ship's cargo are two twin 152mm turrets taken from retired light cruisers, and a twin 340mm turret from the scrapped battleship
Provence.
Friday, October 20, 1944
Russian virtuoso pianist Sviatoslav Richter made his first appearance in Western Europe to a packed crowd at Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet. Richter astounded the crowd with his outstanding performance of Brahms' Piano Concert No.2 and Bartók;s First Piano Concerto.
Saturday, October 21, 1944
With exactly one year remaining before the Indochina Plebiscite, pro-independence groups have a gloomy outlook for their success next October. Increased tensions with China, the news from the war in Korea, and the end of the Pan-Asian dream have all resulted in a fading of the fervor for independence. Now, moderate pro-independence groups even admit that 'some sort of continued mutual defense agreements with European partners' must be included in any independence deal.
Monday, October 23, 1944
The
Groupe manganèse africaine was formally registered today in Accra with the objective of increasing the mining and export of manganese ore.
Tuesday, October 24, 1944
The 2nd Composite Squadron arrived today in Cam Ranh Bay, escorting six troopships and one amphibious landing ship to Indochina as part of Exercise Forger. The squadron shall remain overseas for three months conducting exercises before returning to the Metropole. The amphibious landing ship
Destrées shall depart independently next week, returning to France by way of the Cape of Good Hope, stopping in British Nigeria in order to discharge two landing craft bound to join Groupement Scipion in Mali.
Friday, October 27, 1944
Édith Piaf's song
Les Histoires de Coeur became the best-selling record of 1944.
Monday, October 30, 1944
Rumors from Villacoublay indicate that Avions Dassault intends to unveil a new military aircraft at this year's Paris Air Show.
Tuesday, October 31, 1944
The heavy cruisers
Jean Bart and
Jeanne d'Arc arrived today in the Argentine port of Bahia Blanca for a week-long port call.
Saturday, November 4, 1944
The Paris Air Show opened today with a record number of aircraft on display. The show will run from November 4th to November 12th.
Tuesday, November 7, 1944
The heavy cruisers
Jean Bart and
Jeanne d'Arc departed Argentina for the Pacific Ocean.
Friday, November 10, 1944
The amphibious landing ship
Destrées departed Indochina for the mouth of the Niger River, with elements of the 2nd Dinassaut's riverine warfare element.
Saturday, November 11, 1944
France celebrates Remembrance Day.
Sunday, November 12, 1944
The Paris Air Show closed today after eight days.
Tuesday, November 14, 1944
The fifth issue of
Voisin et Hennequin, released November 14th, continues the adventures of Lieutenants Claude Nicolas Hennequin and Wenceslas Voisin. The tribal rebels led by Abdul el-Hakim, aided by the mercenary fighter pilots led by Colonel Dirksen, have overrun the French airbase Voisin and Hennequin call home. Fleeing the attack, they join the Escadron de Lions, which has been sent to Côte Rocheuse to hunt down the mercenary fighter pilots. The 'Lions' encounter Dirksen's mercenaries in an aerial duel over a mountainous region known as Jebel Keshkal, but Dirksen lures them into a trap laid with dozens of antiaircraft guns. Voisin and Hennequin, ordered to stay behind as top cover, disobey their instructions in order to strafe the AA guns and save the rest of the squadron. Back at base, the squadron's second-in-command, hotshot pilot Capitane Demange, wants the pair written up for disobeying instructions, but the Lions' commander, Commandant Mathis, instead commends the pair for their gallantry.
Wednesday, November 15, 1944 -
Le Canard enchaîné
What the Bird Has to Say: In the editorials, socialist editors critiqued the recent decision by the French Air Force to purchase Dornier Do330 maritime patrol aircraft, noting that the purchase of German-built equipment over locally-produced types stole bread from the mouths of the children of French laborers.
Monday, November 20, 1944
French composer Antoine Mariotte dies in Izieux, Loire.
Tuesday, November 21, 1944
The
Société nationale d'études et de construction de moteurs d'aviation was inaugurated today by the merger of Lorraine (formerly Lorraine-Dietrich) with the Farman Company's aircraft-engine manufacturing division. Both companies have struggled over the past few years, as Farman license-built Hispano-Suiza engines and Lorraine license-built Argus engines. The newly-combined firm intends to begin developing turbojet engines for larger contracts while maintaining the licensed Argus line.
Wednesday, November 22, 1944
Jean Bart and
Jeanne d'Arc arrived in Talcahuano. They will conduct a short port visit followed by two-week long exercises (
Exercise ) with the Chilean Navy.
Saturday, November 25, 1944
The Indochinese Governing Council confirmed Van Tuan Loan's appointment as the Indochinese Minister of Health and Education.
Friday, December 1, 1944
Air France initiated its "air ferry" service between Paris-Orly and London's Gatwick Airport. Eventually, the airline intends to offer four daily flights between terminals.
Saturday, December 2, 1944
The
Salon nautique international de Paris opened today.
Wednesday, December 6, 1944
The Menier Chocolate Company announced their intention to partner with the importer Martel-Lestrange S.A. of Le Havre to increase importation of cocoa from Cote d'Ivoire, Cote d'Or, and United Togo.
Friday, December 8, 1944
The film
Cécile est morte! opened today in Paris theaters. The film stars Albert Préjean as Police Commissioner Maigret and Santa Relli as Cécile.
Saturday, December 9, 1944
The amphibious landing ship
Destrées arrived today at the mouth of the Niger River. The landing ship will remain offshore for several days, offloading equipment to go up the Niger River to join Groupement Scipion.
Monday, December 11, 1944
The Louis Dreyfus Group initiated a regular cargo ferry service between Marseilles and the Iberian port of Barcelona with the 2,000-ton vessels
Calanque de Sugiton and
Calanque de Sormiou. Among the main cargoes expected for the new service is Iberian-grown oranges.
Wednesday, December 13, 1944
The Air Ministry confirmed that it had cancelled all further orders for the Dewoitine D.800 Flèche, citing poor performance.
Tuesday, December 19, 1944
Due to rising urban population, particularly in the region of Paris and Lyon, a movement advocating the creation of
villes nouvelles ("new towns") has risen, echoing developments from Britain. The movement points to the construction in the quickly-expanding town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines as a potential model for the rest of the movement within France to follow.
Friday, December 22, 1944
Excerpt from a report by the Marine Nationale about the advisability of landing existing jet aircraft on aircraft carriers:
-
Bf-262: German-built jet in French service.
Not suitable for carrier landings or take-offs.
-
Dewoitine D.800:
Not suitable for carrier landings or take-offs.
-
Arsenal VG.640:
Capable of arrested carrier landings and takeoffs with proper preparation.
-
Spartan Stormrider: Mixed-power Atlantean fighter.
Single example loaned from Atlantis currently undergoing carrier trials with Atlantic Fleet. Acquire more for further trials.
-
Dassault Ouragan:
Not yet flown, no commentary yet available.
Thursday, December 28, 1944
German Foreign Minister Thomas Dehner arrived this evening in Paris for consultations with Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Pierre Murail. Rumored topics of discussion include East Asia.