Evening star., 1961-04-24
ALGERIA
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France to join loyal units. The
Information Ministry confirmed
the flight but would give no
further details. The junta in
Algiers had previously claimed
to control all airfields in the
territory.
Rebels Claim Gains
The rebellious French. forces
in the North African territory
claimed more and more troops
were flocking to their banner
All France had been alerted
last night for a paratroop inva-
sion by the Algerian mutineerS,
and all plane flights we're
halted. But as the hours passed
planes began moving again
until the new clampdown.
In a massive show of Solidar-
ity behind Gen. de Gaulle.
labor unions of all political
shades halted work from one
end of the nation to the other
for an hour. Only essential
services were maintained as
the workers showed their 10y
atty to Gen. de Gaulle. Reports
indicated 10 million workers
took part.
President Kennedy sent a
personal message of support to
the general. Joseph B. Godber,
British underSecretary for for
eign affairs, expressed Britain's
friendship for France in the
House of Commons and de-
clared: "A strong and united
France is vital to the freedom
Of the world"
Stocks Slump
Other events of the day:
/. North African, Algerian
and Sahara stocks, including
petroleum shares, tumbled on
the Paris Bourse, dragging the
acroSs-the-board average down
about 10 per cent. Purchases
Of gold tripled as compared
with Fridays trading.
2. About 1900 civilian vol
unteers were being mobilized in
10-man teams to help police
and security troops guarding
the capitals public buildings
and communications headquar-
ters, the Presidents offices and
approaches to the city. Tanks
were drawn up at gateways to
the capital.
3. Police buses stood de-
ployed, under the alert eyes of
heavily armed police, at key in
teTsectionS and bridges, ready
to be used as barricadeS If nee
eSsary.
Finances Affected
4. The Finance Ministry cut
off all transactions between
France and Algeria, a step
which would eventually freeze
finances in Algeria where the
currency is pegged to the
French franc.
5. The government filed an
open indictment, obviously
aimed at the leadership of the
Agiers coup. asking the death
penalty or life imprisonment for
all persons involved in the in
surrection.
6. Hundreds Of messages of
support and loyalty streamed
into Gen. de Gaulle'S offices
from all corners of the nation.
The reservists were called up
to beef up regular troop units
and to provide leadership for
the hastily modified civil de-
fense militia. Premier Michel
Debre said military units will
be reinforced by individual
callups which will permit the
constitution ot~feserve units
with regular officers"
Mr.. Debre announced the
Gallup after a night Of electric
tension sparked by his own
warning that the government
feared an airborne attempt to
seize the French capital.
Hundreds of volunteers
streamed to the Interior Min
istry in Paris throughout the
night, clamoring for arms. They
were given rifles or carbines
and partial uniforms, organized
into 10-man squads and sent
out to guard public buildings.
AS dawn broke over the
French capital, thousands of
tank-supported troops and Sc
curity forces were on guard at
key points.
=, Much of France went on a
virtual war footing after Pre-
mier Debre told a nationwide
TV-radio audience last night
that an attack from Algeria
could come at anytime. Rumors
flew about that 1,500 para
troopers in 80 planes had taken
off from Algeria.
All commercial air traffic to
and from France was halted.
Trucks were parked on airport
runways to prevent the landing
Of any troop carriers. Labor
union members assembled at
their union headquarters to
back up the security forces II
needed.
This morning the Interior
Ministry announced that fear
Of what could have happened
during the night on the terri
tory of Metropolitan France
did not materialize.
The situation in Algeria re-
manned confused. The inSur-
gent junta claimed the whole
army in Algeria had rallied to
it. But the French government