Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-02
BiggestBottle
OfUprising
Underway

Two French divisions backed
by jet divebombers battled furi-
ously today to wipe out a big
Algerian rebel force trapped in
the "gates Of iron" triangle Of
the desolate Biban Mountains.
The French claimed the rebels
already have lost 400 men-290
dead and Ito taken prisoner
in the biggest single encounter
Of the 18-month-old Algerian
uprising.
Military dispatches disclosed
that the 10th Infantry Division
had been thrown in to support
the crack 9th Mechanical Divi-
sion and to contain rebel units
desperately striving to break out
of enlightenment.
Artillery and flghter-bomber
planes blasted away at the
rebels clinging to sun-baked
crags within the triangle in
eastern Algeria. The area lies
southwest of Bougie and along
the Soumman Valley where
French settlers repeatedly have
been hit by strong rebel raids.
The 9th Division launched its
offensive Wednesday on the
western edge of the triangle.
Division Performance Praised
French officers said the divi-
sion was performing "Superbly."
Originally it was trained on the
NATO defense line in Germany
to operate in small attachments
under conditions of atomic war
fare. The officers said this type
of training has been found ex-
cellent for the fast moving hit
Iand-run engagements of the Al
Igerian war.
The rebel triangle is besieged
on the east by the 10th Infantry
Division.
Dispatches said the rebels at
one point concentrated their
forces west Of Lafayette and
threatened to break out of the
trap. The French commander
summoned fighter-bombers in
Guiding Mistral Jets which dive
bombed the rebel positions,
forcing the Moslems to fall back,
leaving many dead and wounded
Strewn on the mountainsides.
The French are making an all
out effort to dislodge the rebels
from the mountain pass. If they
take the area, they will COM
mand the southern rim of the
disputed Soumman Valley on the
outskirts of the rebel-held Grand
Kayblie.
Attack on PhiIippeviIIe
Other rebels, meanwhile,
launched an attack last night
on the coastal city of Philippe
vile. 10 air miles southeast of
the Bibab battle area.
A band of about 20 rebels.
opened fire and threw grenades
on the outskirts of the city,
killing two persons and wound
ing eight. Security forces routed
the attackers after two hours,
shooting down IL of them.
In the Constantine area.
French force moved against a
rebel group near the town of
Mia and reported they killed 80.
In Algiers, police raided the
homes of known Communists
and leaders Of the National
Algerian Movement. They re-
portedly picked up 30 Reds and
movement leaders.
The Arabs staged a general
strike yesterday in the Casbah
native quarter of Algiers-in
protest against the French
clampdown. The French picked
up hundreds of nationalist in
IA recent security sweep Of the
quarter.
In Paris the Algerian situation
held the stage in the French
National Assembly's debate on
Premier Guy Mollet's policies.
Asks Definite Goals
Former Premier Paul Reynaud
called on the government to spell
out just what France hopes to
gain from fighting in the North
African territory.
1--WE are fighting an adversary
who has proclaimed his war
aims" the wartime leader de-
clared. France must proclaim
its goals of peace"
Mr.. Reynaud favored the gov
|ernment's policy of recalling
reserves to bolster French forces
in Algeria. But he criticized
the government for failing to
produce a plan that might be
proposed to the Algerian ma
tionalistS and bring them over