Evening star., 1943-08-07
S285,0O0, 1000 in Gold
Still Safely Stored
In Martinique Vault
BY JOSEPH E. DYNAN.


Associate Press FOREIGN correspondent)
FoRT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique.
Despite repeated orders from the
Vichy government to sink some
$285, 100000 in gold coin stored In
Fort Desaix's casemates, Frances
greatest single cache of wealth is
safe in Allied hands.
Officials recently found messages
from Vichy in Government House,
ordering Admiral Robert to resist
with force any foreign Intervention
or internal uprising and to sink the
gold and scuttle the French war
ships and merchantmen in Fort-de-
Frances hsrbor. The orders were
sent on an average OF once every
three days.
Plans for sinking the gold In the
event of foreign attack had been
completed. The 8,766 boxes of metal
were to be loaded aboard one of the
ships and take to sea. at q point
known for its great depth. Here,
where the sea is too deep for sue
eessful diving and Reinforcement, the
gold was to be dumped overheard
and the ship itself scuttled.
With Col. Pierre de Chevigne,
member Of the French delegation
from Washington and interim chief
OF the islands police and military
establishments, leading the way,
guard OF honor greeted our inspec-
ton party at the forts gateway.
The colonel led the way toward the
gold-studded casemates holding the
coin from the Banque de France.
$4,000 In Each Box.
An air of heavy somnolence hung
over the fort as we descended the
underground, stairs. A sergeant in
charge of detachment of four
colored soldiers shouted "Hyp!" The
guards came to rigid attention. Be-
yond the heavily armored door was
the treasured casemates with con-
crete walls and arched ceilings.
The containers, each holding
about $32, 1000 in coins OF various
nations, resemble so many boxes In
a shoestore. Most of the coins are
French Louis dor, or 20-franc
pieces of the days when the franc
was more valuable, but one-third of
the total is in United States IS and
$40 gold coins.
The "shoebcxes" are piled to
shoulder height within three case
mates about so feet underground and
further protected by an additional
40-foot rampant built above the
ground at the forts inner wall. The
boxes are sealed with heavy steel
bands which require some time to
break.
About two months ago the United
States naval observer, Capt. A. S.
Hickey, and Marcel Malige, the con-
sui, inspected the vaults to ascer.
tain the presence of the gold. Ac-
companied by the local manager OF
the Banque de France, M. de Katof,
who alone holds the key to the
armored doorway, Capt. Hickey and
M. Malige found that French of
f1cials had obligingly placed one Of
the heavy boxes on the floor, ready
for opening.
Reported Gold Still There.
They told the inspectors, however
they could choose any of the 8,766
boxes and, according to the story
recited in Fort de Frances cafes,
Capt. Hickey pointed to box in an
obscure corner near the bottom of
the pile. 1t took several soldiers a
quarter hour to dislodge it and drag
it to the center Of the room where
1t was opened.
Inside was found a large sack con-
tanning several smaller sacks. Open
ing one of these the inspectors found
gllttering coins of the Latin none
tary union. Capt. Hickey plunged
his hand in the sack, drew out a
handful Of coins and let them fall
through his fingers.
The American officials were thus
satisfied the gold was still there.
and so they reported to Washington.
Plenipotentiary Henri Etienne
Hoppenot, Col. de Chevigne and Ad-
miral Lambert, Free French naval
officer, likewise are satisfied the gold
is still there. The future use and
location of the French gold is still
undecided, presumably, though, it
could be used to underwrite pur-
chases of arms and munitions in
the United States.
When France fell, the gold was
loaded on the fast cruiser Emil Ber-
tin and taken to Halifax under the
command of Admiral Battet who
then went to Martinique despite re-
ported efforts of British ships to
halt his mission. Admiral Battet
left Martinique, joined the Giraud-
lists and made an attempt to swing
Admiral Robert to Gen. Girauds
side.