O.A.S. Opens Scorched Earth Campaign

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29844, 9 June 1962, Page 11

O.A.S. Opens Scorched Earth Campaign

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) ALGIERS, June 8. Security forces and firemen stood by in Algiers today to combat the new “scorched earth” campaign by the Secret Army Organisation (0.A.5.). Curfew was advanced last night from midnight to 8 30 p.m. (local time) after a day in which the O.A.S. ended its week-long truce with a violent offensive of bombs and fire against public buildings. The OA.S. said in a pirate broadcast that the “scorched earth” policy would continue until satisfactory guarantees were given for the future of Europeans in Algeria. Failing

such guarantees, all Europeans would be advised to leave. Eleven persons were killed and 13 wounded yesterday in acts of violence throughout Algeria. Seven of the dead and one of the wounded were Moslems. Five of the wounded were mobile gendarmes. • In Oran, Western Algeria, a booby-trapped tank lorry containing 3300 gallons of petrol exploded outside a Mobile Gendarmerie barracks while OAS. commandos opened fire. Official sources said that three Mobile Gendarmes were seriously injured. OAS. commandos also opened fire on the Oran Prefecture. Three plastic charges fused to phosphorus grenades rocked the centre of Algiers and set Are to Algiers University. Firemen took more than an hour to bring the flames under control. By then the major sections of the Law, Science and Medicine faculties and the library, with 500.000 books, had been destroyed. Hundreds of Europeans in the street cheered as pieces of stone loosened by the heat crashed into the tropical gardens below.

The university is due to be handed over to an independent Algeria after the self-

determination vote on July 1. Fires also were started by phosphorus grenades in Algiers Central Post Office, and in a tax office. O.AS. commandos also destroyed a high school near the university, a girls' college, a school in the European working class suburb of Bab El Ouod and the town hall in El Bia suburb. At least seven hold-ups took place in Algiers during the day. six in post offices. The total amount of money stolen was not immediately known, but it was believed to be more than 35.000 francs.

No Party For Majority No party had appeared to represent the majority of Algeria's one million Europeans when the deadline for registration to take port in the self-determination referendum campaign passed at midnight last night.

Seven parties. Including the Algerian National Liberation Front (FL.N) registered bv midnight, but only three European-Jed parties, each supported by a tiny minority, applied on time.

Official* close to the President of the mainly Moslem Provisional Executive (Mr Abderraiwnane Far res) Mid yerterday that his long series of contacts aimed at producing an alternative European leadership to the OAS. had ended without success.