CHALLE CONFESSES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 13

CHALLE CONFESSES

6 American Advisers To N.A. T. O. Urged Revolt” (N.Z. Press Aim.—Copyright) LONDON, April 29. Maurice Challc, the broken, humiliated leader of the paratroopers’ revolt in Algeria, collapsed in his cell today and gave French intelligence officers the full, fantastic secrets of the Algerian coup, the “Sunday Dispatch” reported from Paris. After a five-hour interrogation, the former general told Deuxieme Bureau agents that he was offered military and financial support by senior American North Atlantic Treaty Organisation officers. He told them that the Americans’ encouragement was decisive in firing the rebellion against President de Gaulle.

The “Sunday Dispatch” report said that Challe told agents that his American advisers were men with fierce Right-wing beliefs—professional soldiers who were convinced that Algeria would turn Communist if France retreated. High-ranking Algerian officers had also urged Challe to take immediate steps “to prevent another Congo,” the newspaper said. The British United Press reported that the French Ministry of Justice denied a report that police had scotched a plot to assassinate President de Gaulle at a theatre performance the night the generals revolted

in Algiers and that a number of people involved in the plot were arrested.

Reuter reported from Algiers that the Minister for Algeria, Mr Louis Joxe, told a press conference tonight that the Government did not “have adequate information of the armed attack which was coming.” He said the French Government had only heard “one or two rumours” of plans for the rebellion before it broke out

The French Armed Forces Minister, Mr Pierre Messmer, who also addressed the press conference, said that slightly less than 200 officers had been arrested. He said that the dissolution of the Ist Paratroop Regiment of the Foreign Legion had been completed tonight. A vast purge of the police. Administration, press and Army was started yesterday

on President de. Gaulle’s orders to root out supporters of the unsuccessful coup d’etat, said the Associated Press.

Authorities revealed that 70 gendarmes had been arrested in Algiers, an Appeals Court Judge suspended, “many” Army officers arrested, 12 members of Algiers Radio suspended or transferred and hundreds of civilians questioned and many held. The suspended Judge is Mr Leon Cot, First President of the Algiers Court of Appeal. In thousands of police investigations throughout France in the last few days, an estimated 600 persons have been detained. Right-wing and former servicemen’s organisations have been investigated and several of them, including the ExServicemen of Indo-China Association, of which General Raoul Salan was president, may be dissolved. In Algeria, General Gouraud. the former Army commander in Constantine, General Petit, of the infantry. General Bigot, the former commander of the Fifth Air Region, and General Metre, the former commander of the Sahara forces, were arrested and sent to Paris. Officials said 400 arrests had already been made in the Algiers region, mainly of members of the clandestine “organisation of the Secret Army,” said Reuter. On orders from the authorities, civilians had handed in 8250 firearms in the last two days and weapons were still flowing in. But numerous sub-machine ’ guns and rifles distributed ‘ from the police and gendarmerie armouries were still missing.

The announcement of the arrests was made by Mr Coup de Frejac, the Government spokesman in Algiers. He said that the arrests had been decided on by the Minister of Defence.

Mr Coup de Frejac also listed as set down for disbanding the 144th and 18tb

Paratroop Regiments, in addition to the First Paratroop Regiment of the Foreign Legion.

The state of emergency set up by General de Gaulle in order to beat the military rebellion ' would remain in force for some time, according to Paris Government sources quoted by Reuter. It was announced yesterday that the leaders of the insurrection would be tried before a military tribunal consisting of five civilians, four generals and an admiral, the British United Press reported.

The Minister of Information (Mr Louis Terrenoire) said today. “Behind the exgenerals there was an immense network with connexions everywhere—into the ministries, the secretariats of Cabinet ministers, and communications centres; "General de Gaulle is determined that these dangerous games shall be brought to an end.” The text of President Kennedy’s message to President de Gaulle last night was released in Paris today. It is: “Dear General de Gaulle, I want you to know how deeply gratified I am with the success you have achieved in mastering events in recent days. “I know that the American people join me in this feeling of gratification knowing that, if the results had been any other, the tragedy would have been for all of us and not for France alone. “The steadfastness you displayed in the face of the hazards was inspiring and in full accord with firm, unswerving devotion to your nation which has been your role in France's difficult days. “I must add. as well, that I was particularly heartened by the splendid manner in which the entire French people and the great majority of the French armed forces responded to your leadership. With warmest personal wishes, sincerely yours, John F. Kennedy.” President de Gaulle will address the nation by radio and television on May 8, it was announced today. He is expected to draw the lessons : from the four-day Army rebellion.