The index page for the 1954 French flap section of this website is here.
Reference for this case: Oct-54-Hettange-Grande.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.
Around 2003, I found on the French-speaking Web a page about the UFO sightings in Lorraine by one "ufo57"; who published the following, obviously a Press article, of October 15, 1954, headlined "The 'Martian' spoke the Luxemburg dialect."
The article said that in the country of Thionville, at this time, one told a small anecdote about a "Martian" that would have originated in Hettange-Grande, "privileged locality since some of its inhabitants already saw several flying saucers."
It was said that once again a saucer had been reported, and "something particularly serious and sensational, a Martian would have been reported stalking in the nearby countryside."
Public security forces, armed to cope with any eventuality and assisted by city-dwellers armed with pitchforks, had quickly arrived at the place and after a vast encirclement maneuver, managed to apprehend a small individual with a shaggy beard and "resembling a human being..."
Conducted in a security station and unsuccessfully interrogated for more than two hours, he had kept a complete silence, obviously not understanding French nor the best interpreters in German, Polish, Italian, English, etc., who parade in turn before him, all without success.
Discouraged, the "earthlings" temporarily gave up "when - miracle! - the being began to speak in a language dear to our neighbors of the Grand-Duché (of Luxemburg): 'Enough with this comedy, is there nobody here who can speak in Luxemburgic dialect?'"
This was concluded as follows: "Stupor and consternation among our Martians 'hunters', exclaiming with spite: 'Another... Luxemburgish!'"
[Ref. clu1:] UFOLOGY BULLETIN "LES CHRONIQUES DE LA CLEU":
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Frisange, 10/ll/l954
Always and always "flying saucers"!! Under this title the Lorraine press receives information from Hettange-Grande. If we count the mysterious appearances made until today in our small town, we can conclude that our population is especially spoiled with flying saucers.
A first appearance was made on 8/3/1952. A craft turned at 3000 meters then slowly disappeared. From that day the observations followed one another: 11/4/1953, 9/28/1953 and 10/6/1954.
The source of several such articles is noted in indiscriminated manner as "Tageblatt + Luxemburger Wort - Articles translated by Monique Sassel (CLEU)".
[Ref. net1:] FOUND ON THE INTERNET:
Friday, October 15, 1954
The "Martian" spoke the dialect of Luxembourg
THIONVILLE - In the Thionville country it is currently told a funny story about a small "Martian" which would have occurred in Hettange-Grande, privileged locality since some of its inhabitants already saw there the flying saucers on several occasions. Thionville, nearby city since it is located only a few kilometers and benefits "practically" of the same corner of the vault of heavens, starts to worry seriously about the total absence of saucers or "flying cigars" in "its" sky! Thus the brave citizens of this old citadel underline with some complacency the following story.
Once more a saucer had been announced and a particularly serious and sensational thing, a Martian, has been reported as wandering in the nearby countryside. The police force, armed to be ready to any possibility and assisted of townsmen provided of... forks, had quickly gone on the premises and after a vast encircling movement, managed to seize an individual of small size, with a bushy beard and resembling a human being.... Led in a police station for safety and vainly questioned during more than two hours, he remained totally silent. The "Martian" did obviously not understand French and the best interpreters in German, Polish, Italian, English, etc, raveled in turn in front of him; but all without success, because he still did not answer the questions. Won by discouragement and not knowing anymore what a holy saint should be invoked, our "earthmen" were going to give up the efforts temporarily, when - ah miracle! - the being started to speak in a language cherished by with our neighbors of Luxemburg: "Enough with this comedy, is there nobody here who can express himself in Luxembourg dialect?" Stupor and consternation on our Martians "hunters", whom exclaimed with spite: "Again... one more Luxemburger!"
[Ref. jbu1:] JEROME BEAU:
Friday, October 15, 1954
[...]
In Thionville, a "saucer" is again reported as well as a "Martian" hiking in the close countryside. The police force, armed to counter any possibility and assisted of townsmen provided with forks goes on the spot and, after a vast circling maneuver, manages to capture an individual of small size, with a bushy beard and human appearance ultimately. Led in a safety station and vainly questioned during more than 2 h, he remains completely mute. The "Martian" obviously does not understand French and the best interpreters German, Polish, Italian, English, etc, ravel in turn in front of him; but all without success, for he still does not answer the questions. Yielding to the discouragement and not knowing anymore what saint to call, the gendarmes are ready to give up when the person starts to speaking in a language the Luxemburg people are fond of: Enough with this comedy, is there nobody here who can express himself in Luxembourg language? Stupor and consternation of the Martians "hunters", exclaiming with spite: Again a... Luxemburger!
[...]
Jerome Beau comments that this could be the explanation of the case of Pournoy la Chétive.
The source is indicated as "Sider 1997".
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Misinterpretation, or newspaper invention. This is what ufologists call a "negative case", a case that is quickly given a prosaic explanation by the witnesses themselves.
(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)
Hettange-Grande, Moselle, confusion
[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.
| Version: | Created/Changed by: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | October 1, 2005 | First published. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | February 28, 2010 | Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. |
| 1.1 | Patrick Gross | April 6, 2019 | Addition of the Summary. Explanations changed, was: "Confusion." |
| 1.2 | Patrick Gross | May 2, 2022 | Addition [clu1]. |
