Evening star., 1951-08-03
De Gau|Ie's Paper
Says 5O-Ton Tanks
Are Dummy Models
BY Joy Holding
North American Newspaper Alliance

PARIS, Aug. 3.-Parisians have
learned with dismay that Frances
much-vaunted 50-ton tanks may
possibly be dummy models, made
of wood.
The thousands who looked on
with pride, during the BaStille
Day celebrations on the Champs
Elysees. while France massively
displayed its new-found armed
might, have ben disconnected by
the charge that the huge tanks
which featured the parade we're
according to Gen. Charles de
Gaulle's followerS-made of wood
and painted canvas.
The De GaulliSt weekly, LIE
RaSsemblement. in an article en-
titled: Bluff is not a method of
national defense" asserted that
the tanks were made of wood, COW
cred with metal, and painted cloth
to simulate steel. The govern
ment was f1ayed for the purported
deception.
Alleging that the entire article.
was false, Jules Moch, Frances
Minister of National Defense. de-
clared that such lies tend to de-
moraliZe both the Army and the
nation, and puts the French ma
tional defense effort in ridiculous
light. He instituted a suit against
the journel Immediately after the
article appeared.
Illustrates MOderateS' Problem.
The incident is illustrative of
the difficulties confronting the
French moderateS in their efforts
to satisfy extremist elements in
French political circles. Earlier
this month the Communist, Henri
Martin, an officer in the French
Navy, was sentenced to five years
solitary confinement in BreSt.
He had been found guilty of in
citing disobediance among French
soldiers earmarked for service in
1ndo-China. The latest attempt to
sabotage French morale - in
charging that the tanks are cam
ouf1aged wooden dummies comes
from the opposite side of the
French political arena, but the ef-
feet is the same.
DlStruSt Of the military efec-
tiveneSs of the French Army IS
widespread. especially so in the
ranks of Gen. de Gaulle's follow
ers Concern has been expressed
regarding the low morale of the
ordinary French Soldier-and well
1t may be. for he receives only
$1.60 monthly. Equally disturbing
elements are the facts that French
Army food is a subject for jok- |
ing IN Paris, and that, during the
hottest and clammiest days of
summer French soldiers stationed
here wear heavy, wooden uni
form which is far from dashing.
OF the two major problems di-
viding French political thought.
the most heated is the national
defense program. The Gaullists
charge that it is being bungled.
They declare that all war ma
terrell should be manufactured in
France, thus promoting French in
dustry, instead of being made in
the United States and shipped
to them
Called Lackey to Z. S.
They ask that France demand
American machine tools to amel-
torate the French heavy industry
potential. The Communists, on
the other hand, assert that the
program is wholly unnecessary.
that 1t increases the already too
elevated cost of living, and that it
Is aggressive, not defensive, in
nature. They charge, of course.
that the French government is an
American lackey.
Uncertainty seeking to satisfy
the majority the government
veerS first in one direction. then
III another-and often strikes out
punitively in both directions.
right and left. 1t is conscious of
the fact that fully half the French
electorate is convinced it can do
nothing correctly-and that the
remaining half is not certain that
what has been done, and what re-
mains to be done, is unquestion-
able.
Meanwhile, the cost of living
mounts daily. French wholesale
prices have increased 40 per cent
during the last year, and salaries
have Jagged far behind. The gov
eminent has announced an ap-
preaching increase in the price
of tickets on the Paris SubWays-
and this is generally the signal
for a new round of strikes in the
Paris area