On 16 January 1957 General SALAN, then commanding the 10^th Military Region and commanding all armed forces in Algiers, is victim of a mysterious attempt on his life.

P. 91 – 92:….”  It is only at about 1840hrs that I leave my office which shutters are closed at nightfall.  
I arrive at the GG and go immediately to see Mr LACOSTE (Then General Governor). We talk about the situation in Algiers and the slight slow down of the paras’ set up. Right at 1900hrs a huge fracas, the like never heard in Algiers before, shakes the building. In spite of the darkness, we could see rising above the port a thick black and yellow column. We look at each other astonished.  
…It is at your place, commandant RODIER is wounded.
I put my kepi on, rush down the stairs, jump in my car and, at great speed, goes back to the Xth region. My wife is waiting in front of the door.
…RODIER is dead, she said.

Without stopping I enter the military cabinet office. There the scene is atrocious. BASSET, incoherent, hairs lightly burned, give me a hand signal. His hand is covered in blood as in the darkness he went close to RODIER while calling him, and he touched him with his hand. He show me in the corner of the room, behind the desk, his comrade thrown on the floor, with an enormous wound on his left side, his chest opened. The poor soul was nearly cut in two. On the floor and the ceiling blood as spurted in large pools. Even though at war I have seen corpses horribly mutilated, I cannot forget this scene….

P.94: …” 20^th January at 0900hrs - Major HENRI, chief of Military Security and lieutenant-colonel de SHACKEN head of the 2^nd bureau (Military Intelligence).General, they said to me, after the attempt with the bazooka, it is indispensable that you must be aware of the rumours, as bad as they are. We had a long talk with the judge BERARD and what he said confirm what we have learnt. Since 15^th December last, you have been the victim of a defamation campaign originating from Paris.

Note the hand of De Gaulle and his entourage. To defame before action. I ask myself if SALAN knew De Gaulle very well? Did he not think for one instant at the attempt against his former colleague GIRAUD? And to the murder of DARLAN? Did he not think about all these similitude?

The conversation carried on:” We are sure that neither the FLN nor the PCA are responsible for the attempt, but most likely PNs acting on orders from Paris. What is certain is that the slanders have begun to circulate after the visit of general COGNY and the civilians in his entourage, 15^th December last”.

P.95: “Hearing this expose I cannot utter a word. That I am accused to have let go Indochina and willing to do the same with Algeria, this along other slanders, is much more than I would ever imagine. Such an infamy is an insult to my reputation as a chief, me who has always protected my men.

I could only ask HENRY and SCHAKEN to leave me alone.
I am completely confused.
So be it! I will stand up.”
The inquiry was done swiftly and identified the responsible. They were:
-Rene KOVACS, MD
-Philippe CASTILLE
-Michel FECHOZ, Salesman for Renault.
-Gabriel DELLA MONICA, Fireman
-Christian TRONCI, jeweller
-Ange GAFFORY, mechanic

KOVACS state that he is innocent. P. CASTILLE confesses:

P. 99:…” I am a business inspector at the Algerian Company of Renault cars, and know Dr KOVACS with whom I had professional relations. We liked each other. Thinking that the actual French policy was putting our country in a failing situation, we have decided to provoke a psychological shock. There has been some minors terrorist actions against Moslems, for which we have been helped by TRONCI, by my friend FECHOZ and by GAFFORY.  After that I got to know DELLA MONICA. It is the arrival of general SALAN, considered with MENDES FRANCE, to be the liquidators of Indochina, which gave us the idea of an attentat against the Xth Region. We got hold of 3 rockets and the means to fire them “..

…” On the 16^th, at 1800hrs, we individually go up to the terrace, FECHOZ having the key. It was a dark night and the weather was rainy. Doctor KOVACS stayed in the street and amongst the passer by”….
…” While the team FECHOZ-GAFFORY kept busy with the wiring, with the other comrades we installed against the terrace wall a small ladder, a wooden box and a washboard to support the two pipes. Then TRONCI prepared the rockets, making connections with the wire installed along the court wall and which was going down via the lower window being left open. I installed the rockets, connected the wire in the pipes, then my comrades went downstairs and I followed them two minutes later. When I was in the hallway I preceded to the firing with the battery I had on me, connecting negative-positive with the wire. The explosion was immediate. I got out without any haste and throw the battery in the gutter in Sadi-Carnot street. Then with my comrades we went on our ways. I did not know that a major had been killed.

I do not have any more confession to make, only to point out that our goal was not to kill, but to provoke a spectacular explosion in the heart of the High Command, with the hope to see the public opinion react as well as the pure elements of the army.”…

Note: the other accused will give the same versions.

René Kovacs will state later the same version of the event, adding some new facts:

P. 101:…” If I decide to make some declarations it is, in my soul and conscience and after a lot of thinking, to spare the participants of this sorry affair the major inconvenience that will be brought upon them. About the beginning of December 1956, I had a visit from Mr Francois KNECHT, living in Paris and married to a childhood friend from Algiers. He exposed to me the how and why of a situation which could be resume as follows:” There existed in Paris a 6 members committee, with the following being part of it : Senator Michel DEBRE, Pascal ARRIGHI MP and if my remembrance is correct Mr GISCARD-MONSERVIN ( name given with extreme reserves).

Mr F. KNECHT had been charged to establish a liaison with us, as to put ourselves up to speed with the situation and inform us about the arrival of ARRIGHI and Mr GRIOTTERAY, officer at General COGNY HQ.”…
..”On 16^th December 1956 GRIOTTERAY gave me some explanations which had to be completed in the same afternoon by ARRIGHI, who was taken to my place by KNECHT at around 1700hrs. Before hand, around 1530hrs, I have met General COGNY at the Hotel Saint George in GRIOTTERAY’s room, who introduced me to him. This talk was simply an exchange of views about the situation without touching the political problem”….

…” Political plan to topple the government etc. etc. imagined by DEBRE, with the constitution of a government of Public Salvation etc. etc. where each and everyone will have high positions”….

P. 103 / 104: new talk beginning January 1957..” It is during this talk that the question about General SALAN arose. As the conversation was about the events and the possibility to resolve them for better, GRIOTTERAY hinted about him this way” but there is SALAN, if he was to disappear it will be another game and the difficulties will be much less”. That emphasises with an arm gesture. It is from that moment that comes up to my mind, as well as CASTILLE and FECHOZ when I made a report about the talk, the idea of an attentat against the Xth region. General FAURE, knowing about the committee of six, told me one day that he was in it and did not hide from me that he was sent here by DEBRE.

Note: like all manipulations the propaganda rightly and aptly done would bring the goal desired. In the present case it was the elimination of general SALAN. As it was the case for other obstacles which were on the path of DeGaulle since 1939.

P. 105:…”KOVACS answer the question:
-Who were general FAURE contacts in Algiers? And in Paris?
-He was discreet on that subject and told me only about the Poujadists (popular party founded by POUJADE), in particular Mr GOUTAILLIER. He talked too about colonel ANDRE and his killers. In Paris, as well as DEBRE, he was very close to POUJADE.

P. 106: …” On 2^nd February, KOVACS adds the following precision:

…..” The decision that we took to act against the Xth region was preceded and prepared by the following psychological facts:

On 16^th December 1956 GRIOTTERAY made us clearly understand that the only obstacle for the realisation of the plot –GOGNY coming to Algiers—was the presence of general SALAN.

Note; it is always the same scenario that is adopted: get rid of the obstacles by all means.

P. 109: …” FECHOZ made the following declaration:

All that KOVACS had said is the exact truth. I insist upon the fact that the attempt on SALAN is part of a plot hatched in Paris by very hight ranking political persons.”…
SALAN confirm that, the authenticity of these documents, officially sent to him, cannot be contested.

P. 111 – 112:…”I had from my side, met again general COGNY in the Tonkin in June 1954. General de LANGLADE, inspector of Land Armed Forces in Indochina, came to see me and said to me:

----My general, I am going today in this little decadent Italian principality where Borgia is king, and where one is always on guard that from behind the curtain, Lucrece gives you the poison phial. This was an allusion to GOGNY whose female companion had an italian origin. At that moment I could only smile to that light joke.

Now, the declarations of the participants in this tragic affair deserve attention.

GOGNY’s visit to Algiers on 15/16 December 1956 and the warning from colonel FAIG: ”Beware of general COGNY..” takes all its importance…”

…”All of this surprise me and I guess I could see the truth through the accusations of the indicted, for all the unclear facts and moves on general GOGNY attitude.”…
 
…” Many questions can now be raised in light of these declarations. Amongst the other names give by KOVACS, CASTILLE and  FECHOZ, some are listed in the information that I have had in 1955/56 during my sojourn in Paris. It was pointed to me at this time that many groups originating from the RPF (gaullist party), sometimes without any contact between themselves, were working to bring back De Gaulle in power. During the events at the Arc de Triomphe on 4^th April 1954 and 8^th May 1955, I found out about their intentions. At the same time, while fighting against the project of European Community Defence, the name of DEBRE, who was in charge of the parliamentary campaign, was cited along with those of general FAURE and the managers of the Former Soldiers Information centre (CIAC), LABELLE-ROJOUX and BARBE, both gaullists militants…”

 One must be really blind while reading these lines and with the benefit of insight, not to see the hand of De Gaulle. DEBRE thought he was cleaver, but at the end was manipulated like the others. Of course he had been rewarded for his services. But it does not matter, as, like his master, his hands are red with the blood of the innocents. And thanks, again to his master, has so far escape justice.

P. 113;…”On 15^th January 1957, it was written to me that the counsellor BLOCQ-MASCART was working on a Constitution project and had meeting at his own place, where one could see DEBRE, general COGNY, Unionist Andre LAFONT of the CGT-FO Trade union and R. FREY secretary of the Social-Republicans.

The names of general COGNY, senator DEBRE, MP ARRIGHI are always cited in the declarations of the indicted, along with those of persons wishing for a change of regime. Did ARRIGHI not say to KOVACS:” The bomb prepared in Algiers will explode in metropolitan France.”

KOVACS decode to put some light on the meeting of 16^th December at the St George Hotel. 

P. 117:” I was given a rendezvous for 1500hrs at the St George, room 95 that was booked by A. GRIOTTERAY. When I arrive general COGNY is with general FAURE and ARRIGHI in the garden where they are having a discussion. I enter the room where I meet KNECHT and GRIOTTERAY of course. We are joined at around 15.30hrs by COGNY and ARRIGHI (COGNY, as he enter the room, put his kepi, his gloves and his cane on the bed)….”

KOVACS decide to give some precise points of the interview of 16^th December at the Saint George
 
P. 118-119:…”SALAN: I am sure that, consequently, on this point KOVACS has told the truth, that the denials of the others have no value whatsoever, and, quite the contrary, make us think that they are guilty.

The government commissioner at the military tribunal of Algiers, colonel GARDON, charged to instruct the affair, ask on 8^th March 1957 that Paris let Algiers do it. No official response was given to us.

It is complete silence, as if there was a will, in the high circles, to bury this sorry affair. There will not be any prosecution in the following days.

De Gaulle visit South Oran region, Colomb-Bechar, on 11the March where he met general SALAN.

SALAN states:” We had first a conversation of about one hour about the overall situation in Algeria, in Algiers which seems to him getting better and give me a compliment about it, on other questions about my anterior commands. Then suddenly the general says to me:

--“ So SALAN, this bazooka affair, doubtless that its origin lays from the sanctions you have imposed on some soldiers in Indochina and who since then hold a grudge against you!..

At the time this reflexion leaves me speechless, but I quickly react:

--“No general, say I, it is certainly not from my Indochina’s boys, they are too close to me, but surely a sordid political affair. When there will be a trial, believe me, you will discover yourself the gravity of this affair.

The general give me a stern look, and as if nothing happened, tells me:

..” See you soon at diner.”

I will not stop thinking about this conversation the following days.

Effectively SALAN had reasons to be surprised, but not us. OK, DE GAULLE  was a general, but in principle retired from politics, or so it seems. What was he doing in Colomb-Bechar? Make sure that the oil well will be in perfect state to be given to the FLN? As we know that Mr DEGAULLE had great foresight.  SALAN had his assassin in front of him, the assassin of his friend CORDIER and he did not know it. Have you noticed how DG goes easily from one subject to the other ? How he tried to make SALAN talks ? DEGAULLE was from now on well aware about the risks that the bazooka affair could bring to himself, if it was to come in front of a military tribunal. In his mind he was already planning how to put a lid on the affair.

But let us look at the following to learn more. A real detective story, as SALAN said.

 Months go by. KNECHT  and SAUVAGE are set free. GRIOTTERAY goes back to France without any problems.

P. 120: …” Early in January, the indicted are charged of the following: organised crime group, voluntary homicide, attempted homicide, destruction of building with explosives. They are sent in front of the Permanent Tribunal of the Armed Forces to be judged according to the law.”...

P. 121:…”KNECHT explain that he went twice to Algiers; the first time from 8^th to 21^st November 1956, in an official mission, that is verified, and the second time on holidays, from 8^th December 1956 to 10^th January 1957. During his last visit he has met on different occasions Dr KOVACS. He reject in blocks all of KOVACS declarations. He knows general COGNY since 1948, hence his coming and going between Rabat and Algiers. SAUVAGE is his friend and has been received in Rabat by general COGNY. SAUVAGE too denies the declaration. He pretends that he went to Marocco to get some funds to build a hotel in Tahiti.

GRIOTTERAY has been very often in Algiers on official mission from the general. He has met his friend KNECHT and friends’ including KOVACS, but deny having organised an interview between COGNY and KOVACS.
 
ARRIGHI explain that his trips to Algiers were of official status and that it is in the frame work of his information mission that he has met KOVACS, presented to him as well informed on the opinions and the movements in Algiers. He firmly states that there was no interview on 16^th December between COGNY and KOVACS.

General COGNY confirm the military security mission given to SAUVAGE, the official movements of GRIOTTERAY, and states not knowing KOVACS thus not having an interview with him. He has not received the infamous message.

PROFESSOR LAGROT has sent this message, which text is in the file, after having been seized by the police at the post office, to general COGNY. At the St George, KOVACS has met COGNY for sure, General FAURE has confirmed it. Why all these denials?

I add that SOUSTELLE, DEBRE, BOSCARY-MONSERVIN, GISCARD D’ESTAING and General FAURE, when interrogated, declare not knowing anything about the committee of six….

The file is closed after these declarations and by the closure argument on 1^st January 1958. The affair should go now towards its conclusion as the men who have conspire for the attempt are found not guilty, and so there is only the perpetrators to be judged.

However some unplanned events will bring, in the following months, a new light into the political manoeuvre that everyone has tried to bury and that never the less is at the core of the “bazooka”.

P. 126:”About KOVACS, I have a visit on 18^th June from Me TIXIER-VIGNANCOUR, his lawyer. (KOVACS is very sick; he will not resist the shock from the judgement). The lawyer is persuasive; it is like a great melodrama.

This was one of the first moves to which, it was simple to answer as far as I was concern. But what was more serious was the pressure on Mrs RODIER. Now I must quote Mrs RODIER:

“ Months are going by…Me FLORIOT (my lawyer) write to me only on 30^th December 1957, and as I am not satisfied by his letter, ask to see him. He confirm to me that the indicted have been set free in France, add that the affair will not be judged in Algiers but in France and tells me ignoring the reasons for that decision. Only the military justice is in possession of all the facts. For him there is no more “RODIER file” (sic). As I point out to him my strong desire to have explanations, he propose then to put me in touch with Mr GUIBER, director of Military Justice, the only one qualified to give me satisfaction.

“Effectively, end of January 1958, I am received by GUIBERT with whom I have a long interview. He gives me a resume of the affair, gives me the names of the persons implicated in the plot and adds: ” If GRIOTTERAY, KNECHT and SAUVAGE have been set free, it is only because they are under lings and cannot be incriminated without bringing in the open personalities in high places. This could start some movements in the public, threaten government stability and be the base of a revolt. Also, he adds, a certain confrontation between SALAN and COGNY would not be opportune. That would be exploited by the press and throw a bad light on our army”

“Then, in the presence of a general of the Gendarmerie, he ask me to renounce at the political side of the trial, calling on my husband’s memory, his close relation with SALAN and at my sens of honour”.
I accepted.

To prove to me that this sacrifice is necessary and show me his confidence in me, he propose to let me look at the file after being back from the court, this while Me FLORIOT is present and for whom he has friendship and sure of his patriotism.
I then live after those words, but never had any news from neither GUIBERT nor FLORIOT.
 
The file is closed for them. They found the weak link. The invoked excuse could only work with a poor window left to herself. The well known instigators wanted only one thing: realise their political aim. To say that it would cause some prejudice to SALAN was only a pretext to soften Mrs RODIER who was well aware of the strong bond between the two men. The proof, she did not hear any more about the two lawyers. Their mission was fulfilled, surely with promisees for promotion in the next regime. Why was a general of the Gendarmerie present? Was it necessary to impressed Mrs RODIER that much? Who has to be protected? COGNY??? No. DEBRE? Maybe. DEGAULLE? For sure.

SALAN writes: P. 127:” The pressure put on this poor woman in mourning, and following a conspiracy that was at the same time a lie to which well known personalities did not fear to be mixed with, show an hideous aspect; but also the declarations of the Algiers’ perpetrators cannot be more forceful.

Last paragraph of a letter from Guy MOLLET addressed to Mrs RODIER, P.128:” The criminals who have cowardly murdered a French officer and, if they exist, those helping them, must be punished. Not only did I act for that end accordingly, but also I am at your disposition to help you – if possible – to pursue until its end the necessary action of the justice. I authorise you, evidently, to use this letter in any which way you judge useful for the precedent reasons.”

Why G. MOLLET had to add:” If I can”?? What was his thought when he was writing this letter, which you can read in its full version P. 127/128 volume 3 of SALAN’s Memoirs.

..” In July, the ‘bazooka affair starts to fill up the newspaper columns, the trial should soon begin. That perspective throws consternation in a certain political group. The following fact will show it. In my military and civilian office there is colonel Alain de BOISSIEU, son in law of DE GAULLE. A Monday in July, after the weekend, he asks to see me personally for a serious question. I accept his request, but beg him to bring with him in my office his superior, general LENNUYEUX, who is in charge of the office.

…M. DEBRE, whom I have met during my last time in Paris, said the colonel, is begging of you not to insist that the ‘bazooka affair’ goes to court.

My answer is still the same:
…RODIER has been killed, his assassins must be judged, who ever they are.
Then LENNUYEUX and de BOISSIEU leave.

P. 130:” So here is the orientation given by the minister, essentially responsible as Supreme Chief of the Military Justice. DEBRE can feel reassured, we are going toward a judgement of ‘Conditional freedom’.
In spite of colonel CORNU opposition, government commissioner, and to the surprise of all present, an In Camera is ordered. When it ends at 1800hrs, the trial is delayed sine die and the accused put in ‘conditional freedom’.

 P. 131:” At that time of the story, let’s be clear. After the declarations of Me FLORIOT and GUIBERT to Mrs RODIER, the approach by de BOISSIEU on behalf of DEBRE, the instructions from GUILLAUMAT, minister of the Army and the argumentation of the defence during In Camera, arguments reported by the government commissioner himself, is this not highly significant?

 P. 133:”As colonel GARDON is going back to Paris, DULAC ask him to let me know of the following: Mr de la MALENE wanted to know if SALAN would agree for the trial to be held In Camera. This is done on 11 August at the hotel Astor where I am staying (SALAN is in Paris for business). He gives me a note written by his own hand on that subject, wondering in front of me that certain persons, including DEBRE, insist so much for not having a trial.

As soon as back in Algiers, general DULAC, confirm the visit he has from de la MALENE and its aim. I tell him then:

…Everything is done for that justice not be rendered! For ma part I maintain my position with as much vigour as all these manoeuvres confirmed the accuracy of my opinion. Those who have planned the attempt are not on the accused bench…” 

P.134:”KOVACS will not obey the tribunal convocation. He will prefer to disappear and go to Spain.

The tribunal hearing last from 6 to 11 October in an old room in the old Reuilly barracks. Behind a wooden table seat an old and worn out judge and some army men. What are they doing here? It is true that this job is not sought after in the army and they are chosen randomly from the available soldiers. These judges, surprised by the trial atmosphere and troubled by Me TIXIER-VIGNANCOUR and Me BIAGGI, have accepted the conditional freedom of the indicted without knowing why. Not a single one has asks question on the origin of the attentat, nor who had armed the perpetrators. Not one of them worries about it and the hearing goes by at a slow pace. They only have I front of them the 5 indicted who had not flee, think that their political friends will take them out of this mess and that they will be set free.

Thus when the verdict come, their stupefaction is great: death in absentia for KOVACS, life jail for CASTILLE and jail times for the others. The guards manacle them..no one has came to their rescue!! They go to La Santé ( Paris prison) head low, but a light of revolt burning in their eyes.

And those who manipulated them will not be prosecuted.
The silence fas fallen…”

P.135/136/137:…”The bazooka affair seem closed..

But no so! First in January 60 during barricades week, a commando of Pierre LAGAILLARDE set the condemned free and enlist them in their group. Then, as DE GAULLE policy makes me go to Spain, I had in Madrid an interesting conversation. I live at Hotel Princesa where LAGAILLARDE ask me to listen to CASTILLE and FECHOZ who are with him.

On 10^th January 61 I accept the request and receive the two men in my office, which windows open on a small garden. The Civil Guards keep a close guard on me, as I am watch closely by Franco’s police.

CASTILLE present himself: technical officer, he was a lieutenant in the 11^th Choc battalion as well as in the SDECE ( French intelligence). The Intelligence often takes specialists from the 11^th Choc for special missions. He was not in Indochina. Tall, fine man, he talks with ease.

FECHOZ is a bit rough. He is a courageous man, but persuasible.

Both let me know of their regrets to have been involved in the affair, and their certainty, in regard to the personality of those who directed the affair from Paris and Rabat, to have been in the just way to maintain Algeria French.

…All that KOVACS has declared and that we had confirmed in our depositions early February 1957 is true, said CASTILLE. It is DEBRE who had organised the plot. General COGNY was devoted to him, and wanted to come to Algiers at all cost. KNECHT was overwhelmed by GRIOTTERAY who, on his part, with SAUVAGE, was under the general’s spell.

“ The meeting of 16 December 1956 at the St George has happened as KOVACS has described it. Our meetings with GRIOTTERAY, KNECHT and SAUVAGE are exactly true. That is why when we have been found guilty we did not understand as we were under the impression that DEBRE, then minister of Justice, would set us free, the same as the other indicted in France.

We had to carry the overall responsibility of this sorry affair.

To listen to them for nearly 3 hours, I could feel that they were incapable to have organised this scenario to defend themselves, for as all the precision they gave about the meetings in Algiers, the persons, the places… I found there a confirmation of all the anterior hypothesises formulated in the light of the documents….

Then, after I left Madrid for Algiers on Sunday 23 April 1961 in the morning, and become head of the OAS, the information I could get fit perfectly with the words of CASTILLE and FECHOZ.

That is why I send to DEBRE, who was then Prime Minister, the following letter, in view of the attacks against the OAS from his part; unjust attacks against men that he has pushed in this fight through his writings in the “ Anger Courier” in which I did not forget this sentence:” Any form of abandon of Algeria is an illegitimate act that put the ones who are part of it outside of the law, and those who opposed it, whatever the means, in a state of legitimate defence”.

Letter:
29^th FEBRUARY 1962

Sir,

Until now I decided to personally keep silence about the sorry affair of the bazooka. I know that a few partially informed journalists talk about it.
Your government has just taken some measures said to be ‘spectacular’ to fight against the patriots who have taken the mission, the one you pretended to fulfil, only 3 years ago: the fight for the defence and integrity of the motherland.

Those measures, you did explain them with your own words, on national French TV and Radio, not hesitating to qualify the patriots as assassins and criminals. By this fact I am free to revive some specific details and remind you of the decisive part you personally took, in other times, in a murder affair.

Your participation has been proven to me twice in the year 1958.

In July colonel de BOISSIEU came to see me with general LENNUYEUX asking me on your behalf not to go all the way in the bazooka trial, fearing that both your name and DG be irremediably associated. You are aware of my answer to that demand. Some times later, in August, you came back on this problem. Mr de la MALENE, who belonged then to your office, came to Algiers. As I had to go away I ask general DULAC to receive him, who inform colonel GARDON, my judiciary adviser, given that it was a mission in the frame work of the Justice Ministry office. Mr de la MALENE has presented the same argumentation as colonel de BOISSIEU.

Colonel GARDON has left for me a hand written narration of the interview. This precious document, if there ever was one, has escaped all investigations and searches from your police.

In Spain then, you would be aware that I met those you have misled, by making them execute an act that was more to serve your ambitions than the cause of French Algeria. The precision I got from the executors has definitely shed light on the reality of your actions.

As such you would be the first to fall under the measures you took against the ones you qualified as criminals.

I personally accuse you as the assassin of battalion commander RODIER
 
 A copy of the above letter was addressed to the minister of the armed forces and to the Republic Attorney for the Seine department, for their personal information.

Going via the normal post network, the letter reached the addresses and was printed by some newspaper like “Le Monde” 7^th February 1962.
 Three months later I was arrested. 15^th May 1962 my trial began where the bazooka affair will be talked about at length.

What lessons can we draw from this affair, where a man has died? SALAN does it himself in the following lines, P. 138 volume 3 of his memoirs.

“ In my declaration at the tribunal, 16^th May 1962, I spoke like this:

“ In Algiers the monstrous attentat with the bazooka happened. On 16^th January at 1900 hrs, two rockets are fired, one in my office, the other in commandant RODIER’s who is killed on the spot. It was the first act of violence that was not from the FLN, and was directed at the C in C. Who did it?

We learn very quickly that the attentat was connected to an important plot which success demanded my murder.

The instigators are those who ask today for the death penalty against me. They desire to obtain through justice what they could not with the bazooka.

This is so true that I was denied a serious instruction. Not a single testimony has been recorded, not even the one from DEBRE. Thus it is impossible to understand the events and explain my position as well as the reason for my acts, if the bazooka is not put to light. When the Power refuse total justice to an indicted, it is because it has a great interest to do so.”

I end my declaration:

..” From now on I will keep silent”….
 
 P.138/139: MITTERAND is called to the box following his article:

“An incredible hazard has made that SALAN was the first victim chosen by the clan, which will carry in history the responsibility to have started the civil war, when it gives the order to fire the bazooka one day in January 1957, at the C in C of our old Algeria.”

MITTERAND answer:
“ I have in fact written this article”.

 P.144: ..” In the box DEBRE deny being at the core of the plot with the bazooka.

He has got a letter from general DULAC that states not remembering the visit from de la MALENE in Algiers, as well as a letter from KNECHT who deny the interview between colonel de BOISSIEU and SALAN in July 1958, where the colonel was asking on behalf of DEBRE not to insist that the bazooka affair came to the tribunal, fearing that “ his name as well as DG” be implicated in it.”…
 
P.141:…”It seems to me then that DEBRE, still Prime minister, had the reflex to “cover” himself, after my letter of 29^th January, by having false declarations from the generals who were, in fact, still under his command”…

Salan : P.144:…” The bazooka plot, starting date for the 13^th May 58, had for origin a political group behind which was hiding the high and enigmatic DG, and was gravitating around DEBRE and his friends.
  
Unfortunately, when the events of 13^th May 58 happened, I was not aware of most of the facts I am talking about in the precedent pages, and which came to my knowledge from July 58 and the following years.”
 

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What could we add to the affair, not of one but many as there were 2 rockets.

Even though the truth is hard to swallow for the French, it must be said that assassins like DG, DEBRE and their clan, were left unpunished. Not only unpunished but even more had climbed to the zenith and for ever glorified in French history. Save only if honest historians one day decide to bring to light all the traffics of the said period.

Remember the perpetrator of the crime against Admiral DARLAN (Bonier de la CHAPELLE),

The fail attempt against general GIRAUD by a Senegalese rifleman, and the attempt against SALAN where RODIER died!! In these 3 cases the perpetrators have been condemned to death and the sentence rendered quickly for the Senegalese and Bonier de la CHAPELLE, as to cut off all the leads to the brain. In the bazooka affair KOVACS is condemned to death, but managed to escape to Spain, as he was on conditional freedom. Two of his accomplices, CASTILLE life term and jail terms for the others, would have rotten in jail, if it was not for the barricades –24/1/60 – and being set free by LAGAILLARDE.

In all the cases those who armed the culprits stayed unpunished. DEBRE, right hand man of DG, his henchman from the period before and after 1958, senator, minister of justice during the bazooka, taking advantage of his position to put a lid on the trial knowing his actions will come to light after the testimonies of the perpetrators. Aggravating circumstance, he managed thanks to DG support, to escape justice.

But what to think of that justice if it has at his head an assassin under the order of another assassin? Who are the small fishes who could have escaped the prosecution, etc..? Not a single one. But DG, DEBRE and other trafficators, them managed always to get away from, thanks to their position, the laws of the Republic, without any fear to be prosecuted.

The years are going by, perpetrators and helpers changed, but the brain still stays active and vigilant until his death.

DG and his court were thrown out of Power by those who, blinded by a false light, put him in power.

I will not rest until truth will be known and history set right. If I cannot live long enough to see that, I am sure that within the new generations, there will be honest persons, PN or not, who will make their duty to carry on the fight for that justice will prevail. And that one must stop to teach false French history to our children

What is the moral to all these stories if not that, as long as justice is under the yoke of the politicians, it will be the causes of injustice.

And if injustice stays the mother of the nation, the crooks and the rotten ones have very nice days in front of them, alas.

Gilbert Ibanes
Only one goal, the truth

THE TIME OF THE PLOTS