“CHALK WAR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1941, Page 5

“CHALK WAR”

CARRIED ON IN FRANCE ONLY FORM OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION. SENTENCES ON SUPPORTERS OF DE GAULLE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. May 12. The chalking of inscriptions on walls in unoccupied France—described as a "chalk war”—is the only form of public discussion that is possible, according to the Swiss newspaper “St Galler,” which says that it is a “soulless war between the storm troops’ party functionaries and the masses.” Members of the French Popular Party chalk inscriptions praising Marshal Petain, while supporters of General de Gaulle simply chalk the letter "V” of the Gaullist Cross. Praise of the British air force in "Vive R.A.F." is often seen.

Notices are now often stuck on landings to prevent them being chalked upon, and on hoardings in the streets. The inscription "Vive Petain" is never defaced, and the Swiss newspaper says that Marshal Petain "condemns the chalk war. but the chalk war respects him."

A special correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph" reports from the French frontier that a court-martial at Clermont sentenced 50 French soldiers for aiding a foreign Power and supporting General de Gaulle. Four men were sentenced to death. 12 to life imprisonment, and the remainder to periods of imprisonment of a year or more.