London: The BBC's French service yesterday broadcast a number of coded messages: "Mathurin like spinach", "Acid makes litmus paper turn red" and "My wife has sharp eyesight." Among the listeners were an estimated 175,000 Resistance fighters all over France, who understood their special meaning: "Now is the time for action."
In the last few months, the Resistants have secretly been supplied with armaments and explosives. Each group has its special orders, and last night they carried them out with devastating results. About 950 out of their planned 1,050 sabotage missions of the railways were accomplished; Germans who took to the roads found them blocked. Meanwhile, French post office workers acted to cut off the enemy's military telephone network.
The Resistance has now to "come of age" to become a fully integrated part of the Allied war plan. No fewer than 44 clandestine units are now operational behind enemy lines in occupied France. Each one is in radio contact with the Free French high command under General Pierre Koenig, which, in turn, acts under the direction of Eisenhower's headquarters in Portsmouth.
The resistance are also being helped by 160 French paratroops of 4 SAS who have jumped into German occupied France near Vannes. This is Operation Dingson. They will establish a base to arm and equip members of local resistance units. (Stuart Kohn) See also.