Stricter Security In Algiers

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29828, 22 May 1962, Page 13

Stricter Security In Algiers

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ALGIERS. May 21. Security measures against the Secret Army Organisation (0.A.5.) will be increased in Algiers this week as a result of orders given during the week-end, it was reliably reported today, the British United Press Said.

The reports said that the French Minister for Algerian Affairs (Mr Louis Joxe) and the Minister of Defence (Mr Pierre Messmer) had agreed on an all-out drive against the O A.S. during their meeting in Algiers on Saturday Terrorism yesterday, most of it blamed on the OA.S., killed 20 people and wounded 20 others

In Algiers yesterday mobile gendarmes twice fired on Europeans after O.A.S terrorists threw grenades at Army half-track vehicles Generally both Algiers and Oran were quiet But in Sidi-bel-Abbes. the Foreign Legion headquarters 40 miles south of Oran, five Moslems were killed in clashes with Europeans Plastic bomb attacks were reported from Bone and Constantine

The reports said the military and civil leaders at Rocher Noir, the administrative headquarters 26 miles

from Algiers, had ordered the mobile gendarmerie patrols to increase their action in Algiers in an attempt to cut the daily shooting in the streets. In addition to the 3000 mobile gendarmerie in the city, there are 250 special Moslem policemen manning 20 police stations. Another 650 Moslem policemen are completing training Satan’s Trial In Paris. 10 more defence witneses were due to appear today before the High Military Tribunal trying the former general Raoul Salan. on charges of plotting against the State and leading the O A S

The prosecution and defence are expected to wind up their cases tomorrow—the seventh day of the trial—and the verdict is expected tomorrow night or on Wednesday The defence, led by Maitre Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignan-cour. tailed in the first five days to put the trial on a political basis, and suffered a major set-back on Saturday when Mr Michel Debre. the former Prime Minister, gave evidence.

He told the Court: ‘‘From the moment General de Gaulle's policy for selfdetermination in Algeria was ratified by Parliament and approved by the nation in a referendum. I cannot accept that officers capable of understanding that this policy was in the best interest of France and Algeria, failed to understand it*’ The defence wanted Mr Debre to tell the Court there were extenuating circumstances in the case of Salan

All the other 44 defence witnesses heard so far have praised the former general as a courageous leader Jighung for the cause he believed inFrench Algeria.