“ALGERIA IN STATE OF SIEGE”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 11

“ALGERIA IN STATE OF SIEGE”

European Defiance Of Troops And Police

LONDON, May 5. Algeria was virtually in a state of siege last night, “The Times” reported. Troops and police were deployed throughout the city as a result of reports that the secret army known as the O.A.S. was planning bomb attacks and fire raids on public buildings and officials. Europeans shouted insults and threw stones and rotten vegetables at police and army utility vehicles as they patrolled through the streets.

Hundreds of people stood on their balconies drumming rhythmically on pots and pans the three short and two long beats, standing for “Algerie Francaise.” Motorists returning home joined in with their klaxons. In Paris, the French Defence Ministry announced the two French paratroop divisions stationed in Algeria will be broken up and their individual units posted to other operational divisions. In another of the sweeping

reorganisation measures taken by the French Government in the wake of the abortive generals’ revolt, the Ministry said commando units of the general reserve will also be dissolved and their members reassigned. The Government has already dissolved three paratroop regiments and four commando units. Those remaining will be reorganised into what the Ministry called a light division and three brigades, the Associated Press said.