Word: algerians
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...hard-bitten French air force intelligence officers in North Africa it was the perfect chance to score a coup that might shorten Algeria's long and bloody war. Sultan Mohammed V of Morocco, with the unofficial blessing of Socialist Guy Mollet's government, had invited top Algerian rebel chieftains from their Cairo headquarters to Rabat to talk peace terms with him. Then they would fly to Tunis for discussions with moderate Tunisian Premier Habib Bourguiba. A daring plan occurred to the officers: Why not kidnap the Algerian rebels' high command in midair...
...Trick. Notwithstanding, Lejeune gave the go-ahead to the intelligence officers. He apparently counted on the French Cabinet's current impatience with the Sultan. After all, when the Sultan's 28-year-old son had discussed with Mollet the possibility of talking to the Algerian rebels, Mollet had agreed as long as it was done unspectacularly. Instead the Sultan had welcomed the rebel leaders to his palace, had been photographed with them and had issued a joint communique...
...minutes later the Algerians (accompanied by nine newsmen) took off in a chartered DC-3 of Air Atlas, Moroccan-operated but staffed with French crews. Unsuspecting, Mohammed ben Bella, the Algerian military chief (who won the Croix de guerre as a sergeant in World War II), settled down to study papers. Mohammed Khider, the underground's political chief, scanned Paris-Match...
Trailed by two French submarines, discreetly watched by cruising French aircraft, the rusty white 400-tonner with the chipped smokestack never had a chance. As she zigzagged into Algerian waters last week a French destroyer escort hove in sight, ordered her to heave to. Said the French commander, peeping under the hatches: "A floating arsenal." When the old vessel's contraband cargo was laid out on the quay at Mers-el-Kebir, the French army found sufficient mortars, machine guns, rifles and pistols to equip 3,000 guerrillas...
...capture of the Athos came at a propitious moment for Premier Guy Mollet's government, which is facing intense criticism for its policy in Algeria. Claiming that his tough tactics had beaten the rebels and put them on the run, Algerian Minister Robert Lacoste last week told the National Assembly: "Without the aid of arms that they get from across the frontiers of the east and west, or by sea, their situation would be tragic." Lacoste hinted at what the guerrillas may have planned to do with the Athos arms: "The rebels would be happy if they could seize...