ESCAPE FROM ALGIERS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 13

ESCAPE FROM ALGIERS

Rebel Leaders And | 400 Paratroops V * £ (11/x-tote CswiHgMi (Rec. 10 p.m.) ALGIERS. April 27. Four hundred of the paratroops who took part in the abortive generals* revolt were reported missing from their camp at Zeralda, south of Algiers, today* < " • ’ ■ ' i ■ ” There was speculation in Algiers that they might have taken to the hills to conduct a guerrilla campaign against the French Army, British United Press reported. Three of the former generals who led'the revolt—Raoul Salan, Andre Zeller and Edmond Jouhaud—may be with them, informed sources said.

Generals Salan, Zeller and Jouhaud have not been seen since driving away from Algiers early yesterday morning when the revolt came to an end. The fourth leader of the revolt, General Maurice Challe, now is in the Sante Prison in Paris. He was flown to Paris yesterday and has been charged with plotting against the authority of the State—a charge which carries the death penalty. At a press conference in Algiers, the French spokesman, Mr Coup de Frejac. said that all officers who took part in the revolt would face similar charges.

Several arrests had been made, but he said that officials of the civil administration had remained loyal. In France, more than 100 persons have been arrested in Paris alone. Reuters said a remorseless purge of anti-Gaullist rebel elements began in Algiers during the night, under cover of a stringent 9 p.m. to dawn curfew.

Police, armed with search powers, went out with orders to find some 400 civilians who took an active part in backing the generals' junta and their arms. Many citizens handed in their arms voluntarily at police stations. Associated Press quoted a Government spokesman saying in Algiers that only an “extremely small" number of the military .had actually swung behind the four generals in their attempt to overthrow the Paris Government.

The spokesman said that the four generals “quickly fell into the emptiness that they created around them.”

The European population soon realised that it could not exist without France.

In spite of the attempt to minimise the importance of the revolt—which had in fact thoroughly shaken Paris—some observers in Algiers felt that Right-wing military and civilian figures had not abandoned all hope of imposing their will. There also were doubts that the police raids in Algiers would uncover all the arms and munitions which had come into the hands of civilians.

Added to this possible source of new trouble was that an undetermined number of insurgent Right-wing activists were freed by the rebel generals as one of the first acts in their power grab. Among them were the presumed killers of a liberal Algiers lawyer, Mr Pierre Popie. While most Algiers Rightwing Europeans were obviously deflated and resigned today, observers recalled that they had come back several times before, after stern setbacks. to fight their cause, which is that Algeria must remain French. British United Press said the French Government had ordered troops who remained loyal to resume operations against the Algerian Moslem rebels The order was broadcast over Algiers Radio by General Olie, who was appointed supreme commander in Algeria at the height of the crisis.

It is believed that President de Gaulle’s triumph has cleared the way for him to call new negotiations with the rebel Government on Algeria's future.

FOREIGN LEGION Extinction Expected (N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, April 27 The French Foreign Legion faces extinction, according to the “Daily Mail” today. The axe is poised over this half-real, half-mythical band of desperate men, with bellies for anybody's battles but their own. it said. President de Gaulle sees them as a core of disruption In Algeria they went over to the rebels this week.

Among the dregs and adventurers of Europe there was always a thin trickle of mad Britishers and Americans reporting for a five-year term. One of these. P. C. Wren, crystallised his experience into “Beau Geste.” "The Legion is a thing apart.” he wrote. “An anachronism, an incredible survival. the greatest and most glorious regiment in the world.” They were the most underpaid, badly-fed and bru-tally-disciplined band of misfits in the world, slogging from Indo-China to the At-, las Mountains on £1 a week

And yet they made “mercenary” into something of an honourable word.

Now they tramp into the darkness for the last time, leaving their mad-cap myth behind them, the paper said