Massive Crowd Turns Out For Paris Funeral

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29748, 15 February 1962, Page 9

Massive Crowd Turns Out For Paris Funeral

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

PARIS, February 14. For four hours yesterday almost the only sound in Paris was the shuffle of 100,000 feet on rain-soaked pavements and the occasional muffled beat of a funeral drum. The workers of Paris had silenced their usually noisy, raucous city so they could attend the funeral of the eight persons killed during last Thursday’s riots against the Secret Army Organisation (0.A.5.).

They tramped in a silent, solid mass, 50 across, from the Paris central labour exchange to the Pere Lachaise cemetery, two miles and a hahf away, t'he Associated Press reported. In front was a mile-long cortege of wreaths—some so big they needed three men to carry them, some just shabby little bunches of mimosa. Behind were the hearses, each preceded by a large, black-draped photograph of the victims, said Reuter. Most in Work Clothes And then came the people. Most were in their working clothes —busmen, railwaymen, garbage collectors in their wide-brimmed hats, slaughtermen from the abattoirs in blood-stained smocks, factory workers in caps and leather jerkins, nurses, shop assistants and housewives.

They could all be there because Paris was on strike for the morning. There were no trains, buses or air services, no electricity, no public services, no mail collections Factories and schools were closed. Most of the marchers carried flowers —lilies, roses or violets. Police—blamed by many for causing the deaths by their attempts to end the demonstration on Thursday —kept discreetly out of the way yesterday.

The orocession's own marshals kept it orderly Before the funeral, hundreds of mourners had assembled at the central labour exchange.

For more than two hours they were allowed to file past the coffins in a darkened room lit only by candelabra. Huge photographs of the victims stood nearby One coffin was draped In white, and at the sight of it women burst into tears.

Inside was the body of a 15-year-old employee of the Communist newspaper “Humanite.” He was among those crushed-to death in the crowds.

Communists were very prominent. The entire French Communist Party leadership, including its ageing head, Maurice Thorez, marched near the front of the procession.

Also near the front was a former Prime Minister, Mr Pierre Mendes-France. As the coffins reached the graveside the procession halted. Loudspeakers strung from trees relayed the funeral orations to the mourners. Two Demonstrations In Algiers, riot police went into action with tear-gas grenades and swinging clubs yesterday to break up two separate Moslem and European demonstrations. By last evening tihe day's toll in Algiers and Oran alone was nine killed and 16 wounded It brought the total in Algeria since January 1 to 777 killed and 1385 wounded.