CAULDRON OF REVOLT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 October 1943, Page 4

CAULDRON OF REVOLT

BUBBLING IN FRANCE. WORKERS WHO DEFIED GERMANS. Clandestine papers received in England tell their simple, moving stories of heroism in France. “La Vie Ouvriere,” one of these papers .relates how the management of the Etablissements Vermorel, at Ville-franche-sur-Saone, informed its workers’ committee that 46 workmen and 18 technicians were listed for deportation to Germany. All morning the whole works were in a state of effervescence. When the men returned after the lunch hour they called a stay-in strike. “Not one man for the Bodies,” was the order. The management informed the workers’ committee that this would inevitably mean intervention by the Germans and the seizure of hostages. The Under Prefect called upon the Mobile Guard to clear the works, but the workmen refused to leave. News of what was happening became known cutside, and out of sympathy all workshops in the town struck. Then the Under Prefect called on the Germans, and a detachment with machine-guns entered the factory. But the 900 workmen, with their wives now with them, braved it out, greeting the Germans with hooting and the singing of patriotic songs. A delegate of the workmen told the Under Prefect that if the Germans insisted then the Frenchmen would fight, whatever the consequences.

The decision was left to the Under Prefect, and he asked the Germans to withdraw. He then had to give an assurance that not a single workman should leave the factory for Germany. It is particularly interesting to note that the Germans were willing to back down and withdraw. A very short time ago they would have refused to listen to the Undei- Prefect. The Germans fear that a single show-down in which they might be defeated would probably be the signal for a general rising. They are beginning to lose their nerve.