ARRESTS IN PORTUGAL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29712, 4 January 1962, Page 9

ARRESTS IN PORTUGAL

(hi Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LISBON, January 3. Five Portuguese Army officers have been dismissed for being involved tn Monday's abortive revolt "planned and oriented by the Communist Party”—an Army Ministry communique announced early today.

It was issued a few hours before the Prime Minister (Dr. Salazar) was to make his first speech to the nation since the coup attempt at Beja Barracks in southern Portugal, and since the Indian takeover in Goa. The communique said investigations of the revolt

attempt “showed that it was an action planned and oriented by the Communist Party, with ramifications and within a general plan of action whose details are being investigated." The eventual responsibility of any other military men was being investigated, the communique said. The dismissal of the five was independent of legal action which would follow the due procedure. The five were identified as: Captain Joao Paulo Varela Gomes. Captain Eugnio Oscar Filipe de Olivera, Captain Francisco Antonio de Vasconcelos Pestane, Lieutenant Alexandre Hipolito Dos

Santos and Lieutenant Jorge Manuel Toscano de Melo. A mass rally in support of Dr. Salazar planned for today was cancelled as a mark of respect for the Army Undersecretary (LieutenantColonel Jaime Filipe da Fonseca), who was killed in toe revolt. His was toe only death on the Government side in toe action, in which between 40 and 50 men were reported to have briefly seized the barracks. Unofficial figures put toe casualties on both sides as about three killed and five injured, and the number of arrests so far at 28. Earlier report, page 12)