Evening star., 1955-06-18
Death Toll $50
In Argentina;
Capital Quiet
Worships Reported
Still in Rebellion;
Peron Asks Calm


June 18 (R.-Armed troops pa
trolled downtown Buenos Aires
today as stores, shuttered by
South Americas bloodiest revolt
in many years, cautiously started
to open again for business.
President Peron set up his
headquarters in the Army Min
istry, surrounded by military
chiefs whose forces put down
the naval-air uprising Thursday.
Millions of Argentine workers
went back to their jobs after a
24-hour general strike called in
mourning for the $50 persons
killed and nearly 1000 wounded
in the short but violent action.
Appealing to the nation for
calm. Gen. Peron said in a
broadcast last night the revolt
had been put down and peace
prevailed throughout the coun-
try.
"a radio station claiming to
be q clandestine rebel transmit
ter, heard in Montevideo, Uru-
quay, reported widespread areas
of continued resistance, how
ever. 1t said naval forces at
Puerto Belgrano, in southern
Buenos Aires province, had risen
against the government and
that two warships had put into
that base under orders of Rear
Admiral Anibal o. Olivieri. This
officer was replaced yesterday as
Peron's navy minister.
tT'he newspaper La Manana
in the Uruguayan capital also
received "a confirmed report"
that most of the warships of the
Argentine Navy had joined the
revolt. 1t said the vessels were
on the high seas but their exact
whereabouts was unknown. The
Argentine Navy includes two old
battleships, five cruisers, one
coast defense vessel, II des-
troyers and various smaller
ShipS.)
In State Of Siege
The Peron government was
ruling under a state of siege-a
modified form of martial law
which gives authorities the right
to make on-the-spot decisions to
curb troublemakers. Congress
quickly approved the declaration
of state of siege yesterday at
the presidents request. 1
In communique issued early
today, the Army Ministry said
the army high command has
progressively taken over control
of the internal order throughout
the country" under orders from
Gen. Peron.
1t said army units have been
instructed to forbid gatherings
of more than two persons, espe-
cially in the neighborhood of
government offices and industrial l
plants. -" Special antiaircraft de- ]
fenseS have been set up around
key target areas, it added. /
In his broadcast Gen. Peron
promised vigorous justice upon |
those responsible for the revolt S
and stern punishment for roam I
ing mobs who sacked and burned I
some of Buenos Aires flnestIi
churches in the aftermath ofIe
the fighting. |r
Blames Communists
Gen. Peron blamed the Com
munists for the vandalism II
against the churches. which he IA
called historic relics" of the ID
nation. S
(The United States Embassy /
in a report to Washington esti- r
mated that seven churches were II
affected by the mob violence. A
Reuters dispatch from the Ar
gentine capital said every Cath :
olic church in the downtown
section and the Roman Catho-
lie diocesan headquarters were
set afire.)
The bulk of the fighting in the
capital centered around Govern
ment House-known as Casa Ro-
sada (pink house, central
Plaza de Mayo. which was
bombed and strafed in a series
of air attacks.
AS the first bombs fell violent
fighting broke out between Navy
forces in the Ministry of Marine
building and units of the Army
and Presidential Guard at Gov
ernment House.
Damage in the Plaza de Mayo
area apparently was heavy, al
though there has been no official
estimate of the total. Corre-
spondents have been barred from
a first-hand inspection by a po-
lice Gordon which closed off a
l5-block zone to allow demoli-
ton squads to deal with unex-
ploded bombs. The squads were
continuing this hazardous task
today. =
Among the buildings damaged
IN the air attacks were the