The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-03-12

We think Of government money
as an intangible something that
takes care of itself. but when war
brings to attention case OF rush
ing The naticn's gold supply TO safe
". it become matter "ery rtaL
We have now the story of how
France disposed of billion dollars.
It was a thrilling escape.
The treasure was borne across
the Atlantic on a ship-the richest
cargo any ship ever carried. II was
the entire gold reserve of the Bank
OF France-gold in $4,000 little gray
sacks weighing l2O pounds each. 1t
was and still is the second largest
gold pile in the world, second only
10 the United States hoard at Fort
Knox. Ky.
This treasure had the narrowest
Of escapes both from the German
army in France and Canadian au-
thorities at Halifax, but it is as safe
now as such prize could be on
little volcanic island above the
coast of South -America-Ma
nique-in waters where pirates OF
the Spanish main once preyed
The French gold, worth exactly
5,232,344, is buried under
mountain top at Fort St. Louis de
Saix. Fort de France, under slabs
of concrete guarded by guns from
the old battleship Jules Ferry,
which can fire 90 miles to sea.
When the war began, the BANK
OF France decentralized its gold
and hid it in secret places in the
provinces. When the Somme line
broke. and it became apparent
nothing would stop the Germans,
the gold was gathered at vaults at
lie Puy, in the volcanic Businesses
of the Auvergne Central Highlands.
The day the German armies crossed
the Seine at~Vernon, bank officials
decided 10 move the gold 10 Amer
lea secretly.
There was a wild race to Brest
with the gold sacks. On June -
the whole stock was embarked on
the cruiser Emile Berth, in charge
OF Commander Battet, who was CIV
en- sealed orders. Watchers knew
that II the cruiser turned north the
gold was going to Britain, 81 it
turned south the gold was bound for
Dakar, Africa. But il went straight
west at 80 knots and on June IS
arrived AT Halifax. y. s.
That same morning, the ship
radio brought new orders. French
Marshal Philippe Petain was asking
for a separate armistice and the
gold must be rushed to the French
possession in the Lesser Antilles.
British officials came aboard and
said special trains were waiting to
speed the gold TO Montreal Battet
stalled, pretending 10 await more
orders. He had 10 resist increasing
British pressure Then, the night OF
June 10, while Halifax slept, Battet
started the gold-laden cruiser back
to sea, backing out OF port to turn
and run for the pass and the open
sea with gunners mounting all 20
or the ships cannon and ordered
10 use them IL the British coastal
batteries fired.
The cruiser swung around Ber-
muda and reached Fort de France
June %. The gold quickly was car
ried ashore and buried at the fort.
The British have blockaded the port
since, but Admiral George Robert,
Col Emile Quenardel, Mai. won
Naneige and their 1000 troops at
Forts St Louis de SaiX and Tarten.
sen guard their treasure.
A chapter in history still may be
made with this gold and the island
where 1t IS stored-an island that
was discovered by Columbu BUS. " here
the Empress Josephine was born.
and where, in 1902. occurred one OF
the great disasters Of all time-the
eruption of Mont Pele. destroying
the city of st. Pierre and killing
10000 persons.