“BASTILLE DAY”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18758, 15 July 1935, Page 7

“BASTILLE DAY”

FRENCH CELEBRATIONS GREAT MILITARY REVIEW MILLION SPECTATORS 'Ulec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received July 15, 11 n.tn.) PARIS, July 14. With 000 army aeroplanes flying over the city and crowds cheering, Bastille Day opened with a military review, the President, M. Albert Lebrun, taking the salute, at the Are de Triomplte surrounded by members of the Cabinet, and the diplomatic corps. Left Wing newspapers print an oath which supporters take as they file past the Bastille: “We swear to defend democratic liberties, to give bread to the workers, nd peace to the world.’’ A brilliant and colorful review included detachments of every regiment, besides marines, the popular African Zouaves, the mechanised army, and the heavy and light artillery. The crowd was most delighted with the sixwheeled tanks, which careered along the Champs Elvsee at 40 miles an hour. It is officially estimated that over a million people were in the streets, and the enthusiasm was unbounded. Although the political atmosphere is -tense, and many have left Paris fearing riots, the national holiday is expec.ted to pass without conflict. Leaders of rival factions ordered their followers not to create disturbances. M. Rocque, leader of the Croix de Feu, swallowed his fiery words and declared that his speech was misunderstood. He was not a Fascist and was not opposed to Parliamentary Government. His climb-down has exasperated his extremist supporters. The Comte de Paris, son of the Due de Guise, head of the Royal house o; Bourbon, issued an appeal for national unity. He declares that his father and himself watched with anxiety the growth of the antagonism of the national popular fronts. Victory for either would result in ruthless government by a party representing only a fraction of France. The monarchy, he added, champions national unity.