Algeria war of independence from France begins

Paris, November 1There was a sudden flare-up of terrorism last night in Algeria, which had hitherto seemed immune to the infection on its two flanks in both Tunisia and Morocco. There were about thirty outrages in the course of the night, causing seven deaths. A good many of them seemed to have been amateurish affairs in which home-made bombs of small efficacy were used, but a number were obviously much more serious.

All the incidents occurred within an hour or two from one end of Algeria to the other, proving that the whole outburst had been competently organised. The Governor-General immediately asked for reinforcements from France and these were granted without the slightest delay. Three companies of Public Security Guards, i.e. about six hundred men, are on their way out by air and three battalions of parachutists.

The most serious incident was an attack on a police post at Batna, south of Constantine. Here an officer and two policemen were killed. Near Algiers two night watchmen were killed and a number of buildings set on fire. In Algiers itself a bomb exploded outside the local headquarters of the French Broadcasting System and others at a power station in the neighbourhood of the town.

Population CalmThe first communiqué issued by the Ministry of the Interior (which is responsible for Algeria) obviously understated the gravity of the outbreak, which it attributed to “individuals or small isolated groups.” A communiqué issued later in the day had a rather more realistic note. Even if, as this communiqué states, “the most complete calm reigns among the entire population” it remains true that a bold and effective organisation is at work.

The trouble is that even those sections of the Moslem population which disapprove of the outrages may hesitate about helping the authorities to suppress them, either through fear or because they consider the terrorists patriots, even if misguided ones. No scheme for further political change in Algeria is at the moment under consideration. The country is still living under the regime of autonomy established shortly after the war, with an Assembly consisting half of members elected by the European community and half elected by the Moslem community.

In point of fact, however, the elections in the Moslem colleges outside the big towns are obviously quite unrepresentative. It was believed that Algeria would remain quiet for the time being largely owing to the fact that since the war emigration from Algeria to France has been free, and this provides a substantial outlet for the surplus population.