Arrests Continue In Algiers

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 13

Arrests Continue In Algiers

(N.Z Preu Association— Copyright) ALGIERS, May 1. Armoured cars and half-track vehicles rumbled into Algiers early today to reinforce already heavy military concentrations in the restive city as nervous authorities prepared for the May Day holiday.

Loyal Army troops and security forces have taken firm control of the city after the collapse early on Wednesday of the four-day generals’ revolt, but authorities were taking no chances. The widespread arrests of supporters of the military coup continued, the Associated Press reported. In Paris, the Defence Ministry yesterday announced the arrest of Major-General Jean Nicot, chief of the French Air Defence Command.

In Algiers, several hundred heavily-armed police ransacked the Hotel St. Georges in a futile search for fleeing members of the military junta. General Nicot was the fifth officer of general rank to be arrested and imprisoned in the purge of the armed forces The other four, including the junta leader, General Maurice Challe. are being held for trial in the Sante prison in Paris. The brief Defence Ministry communique announcing General Nicot's arrest did

not mention charge* or say where he was being held except to specify that it was a military prison.

If he was connected with the coup. General Nicot would have been a key figure in any junta plan for mounting a paratroop attack from Algeria against Pari*. The Government considered such an attack highly possible in the early hour* of the coup last week. President de Gaulle has embarked on a drastic purge of the French Army, civil service and police in the belief that the root* of the Army revolt in Algiers are still concealed, the British United Press reported. The Government is reported to have arrested 2000 persons in France in its efforts to remove the danger of another attempted coup. General de Gaulle is reported to be alarmed by the fact that the plotter* were able to organise the uprising for months, on both side* of th* Mediterranean, without knowledge of it reaching the Government.