Evening star., 1944-08-23

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buildings.
Representatives of Vichy were
arrested or are in fight.
Thus the people of Paris have
taken a prominent part in the
Liberation of the capital.
Long live France!"
The liberation of Paris came. as a
climax and tribute to long prepara-
tions of the French underground
forces. Before the END of her first
year of occupation by the Germans,
the capital began to awaken.
On the walls of buildings through
out the city began to appear the
defiant words "Vive de Gaulle."
Sabotage harassed the Germans in
factories feeding the Nazi war ma
chine. Germans were being found
mysteriously slain. Hostages were
seized and curfews imposed, but the
mute, deadly resistance went on.
Tight Gestapo Grip.
After the United States entered
the war, great things began to be
accomplished by the Maquis in re-
mote regions of France where the
German garrisons were light, but a
tight Gestapo grip was clamped on
the capital to prevent outbreak
Nevertheless, clandestine newspa-
pers continued to appear: De Gaulle
agents were sped on their missions,
sabotage continued and plans for
liberation became clearer each day.
The tide of resistance grew hour
ly and swiftly. When the end
finally came for the Germans, they
had as little chance of keeping their
stolen prize as the French four
years before had of defending it.
Within the last month as supplies
from Normandy we're cut by the
Allied invasion and communications
were rendered almost useless, severe
shortages developed inside Paris and
there were bread riots. Now that
liberation has been accomplished,
food will flow into the city.
A high-ranking Allied officer esti-
mated $4,000 tons of food a month
would be sent to the capital by rail,
truck and barge Huge stocks of
food, medicine and clothing are
waiting in Normandy for the relief
of the city's residents. Distribution
will be made by the civil affairs
branch of the Allied command.
Full Story Still Untold.
The story of how the underground
armed its great forces is still to be
told in detail. Paris long was de-
scribed by the French in London as
the place where Partisans were
largest in number and poorest in
arms. But throughout years of oc-
cupation, the resistance movement
added to the store of arms cached
for the day of liberation. Weapons
were stolen from Nazi supply de-
pots, taken from slain German SOL
diers, and stored until the supply
could satisfy the need. These were
small arms, easily hidden and easily
moved In the event Of German raids.
A heavy toll was taken of the
Partisans in the long months of the
stubborn resistance. London French
estimated $4,000 Parisians were
killed by the Germans before D-day
and another 5000 since. Between
the armistice and D-day they be-
lieved, on the basis OF underground
reports, that 10000 Parisians were
arrested for political reasons, and
that $40 900 were deported for forced
labor.
Now that liberation has come.
arrangements are under way to re-
store French civil government to the
capital. An agreement already
drawn up may be signed in Paris
itself in the near future by British
and French.
1t probably will parallel the agree
ment between the United States and
the De Gaulle organization which
will be signed in Paris with Gen.
Eisenhower representing the Amer
leans and Gen. Koenig the French.
The fact that seizure of the city
was completed and announced by
the French may have been part of
the plan to bolster French confidence
and emphasize to the world the
resurgence of France as great
ma ation,