ALGERIAN REVOLT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 17

ALGERIAN REVOLT

A-Bomb Threat Was Foiled

< N ,Z P-A .-Reuter—Copyright)

ROME, May 9.

The Rome newspaper, “Il Momento Sera,” said today that Colonel ‘ Paul Godard, one of the French officers involved in the generals’ revolt in Algeria, had planned to blackmail the French Government by threatening to drop an atomic bomb on Paris. The newspaper reported that General Challe, the leader of the revolt, thwarted the plan by ordering the atomic bomb to be destroyed rather than let it fall into the hands of his followers, the British United Press said. An atomic device was exploded at the French experimental centre in the Sahara during the revolt. “He (Challe) knew that he was dooming the revolt to failure and perhaps himself to death,” the newspaper said, “but he certainly saved Paris.”

The newspaper’s report was based on what it said was a first-hand account by an Italian who served in the French Foreign Legion and who knew Colonel Godard well. It did not name him. but published a picture of him in legion uniform.

“11 Momento Sera” said Colonel Godard’s plan was to raid the Reganne atomic testing grounds in the Sahara Desert with a group of crack paratroops, take the bomb to Algiers, and then issue an ultimatum: “Either de Gaulle. Debre, and the others surrender power to the men of the Algiers military revolt or the Reganne atom bomb will be dropped on France.” The newspaper claimed that on hearing Colonel Godard's plan. General Challe replied: “We are. first of all soldiers of France and we cannot destroy Paris. We cannot explode the French atomic bomb on France. What use would victory be in that case?”