Hunt For Leaders Of Secret Army

Press, Volume C, Issue 29626, 23 September 1961, Page 11

Hunt For Leaders Of Secret Army

(NJi,P.A.-Reuter— Copyright)

ALGIERS, September 22. Security forces in Algeria today intensified their hunt for leaders of the outlawed Secret Army Organisation (0.A.5.), after a pirate broadcast over Algiers Television calling for a mass anti-de Gaulle demonstration in the city tonight.

The broadcast was made last night after armed men in uniform had seized the television transmission centre at Cap Matlfou, 15 miles east of the city, and sabotaged the installations. A clandestine transmitter was then used on the Algiers television wavelength. President's Tour

The O-A-S. call came as President de Gaulle started a four-day tour of the “Cinderella” areas of France. At meetings in south central France yesterday, he said he was confident that “an Algerian Algeria will co-operate with France.” But in his five-minute speech on Algiers television last night, the former general, Raoul Salan, said: “All Algerians must consider themselves mobilised” against General de Gaulle. Salan, who has been wanted by the French authorities since last April and was sentenced to death in his absence for his part in the abortive generals’ revolt then, was announced as “Commander-in-chief" of the O.A.S. in Algeria and Metropolitan France. The O.A.S. pirate broadcast lasted about 30 minutes.

Another former general, Paul Gardy, who also was sentenced to death in his

absence for his part in the Algiers putsch, said the O.A.S. would soon show that it represented the whole nation. 4 “We can no longer stifle our indignation at the policy of de Gaulle," he said. The announcer of the pirate broadcast said General de Gaulle had sought to “sell out Algeria and reserve for its inhabitants the fate of the Congolese and the Tunisians." He said: “De Gaulle, it is you who will go and you who will fall.”

Leaflets signed by the OAS. circulated last night called for a 90-minute

demonstration tonight. People were asked to crowd their balconies and window* and beat pots and pans to the “Algerie Francaise’’ rhythm. People were a iso asked to hang out flags with the letters OA.S. next Monday morning and to stage a 30-minute general strike a week later. Heavy Guard General de Gaulle, continuing his tour of the poor French department* of Aveyron, Lozere and Ardeche, will visit the towns of Marvejols and Florae today and spend tonight in Mende. He is being heavily guarded against another possible attempt on his life. In a speech »t one village yesterday. General de Gaulle

warned the free world that it must face up to the dangers that confront it or lose its soul. “France does not have to bow or retreat before the danger that threatens her," he said. “Neither France nor the free world has to bow . . . “One gives first one’s hat, and then one’s coat, and then one’s shirt, and then one's skin, and finally, one loses one’s soul,” he said. “That is why, under the threats, we are calm, but firm and very strict," General de GauUe said.