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41
Agadir/Ben Sergao, Meknes, and Port Lyautey
3. War Potential.
are classified as light bomber fields. With
a. Manpower.
minor improvements, five others could be used
Because Algeria is part of metropolitan
by light bombers.
France, its male population is subject to con-
Algeria has twenty airfields of military sig-
scription under the laws that require military
nificance, including: Algiers/Maison Blanche,
training throughout the Republic. Tunisia
suitable for medium bomber operations;
and Morocco, on the other hand, being pro-
Oran/La Senia, capable of limited medium
tectorates, are not subject to this law. In
bomber use after runway repair; Blida and
these areas, the French rely on voluntary en-
Tafaraoui, for light bombers (nine other air-
listment, chiefly from nomadic tribesmen, to
fields have runways suitable for light bombers,
fill the ranks of native units of the French
but completely lack base facilities); and seven
Army.
fields requiring runway repairs and provision
Although there are over one million males of
of base facilities to accommodate light
military age in Algeria fit for some kind of
bombers.
military service, conscription in Algeria aver-
Tunis/El Aouina and Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed
ages only 30,000 a year. Voluntary enlist-
ments on an annual basis from the protecto-
airfields, suitable for light bomber operations,
rates and from Algeria average far less. Vol-
are the best airfields in Tunisia. The runway
unteers are, for the most part, professional
at Kairouan/Hami is suitable for light bomb-
soldiers interested in adventure, plunder, and
ers, but has no base facilities. Three other
fields show possibilities for light bomber oper-
pensions.
ations, but runway repairs and complete in-
At present there is a general lack of equip-
ment and training facilities in the area.
stallation of field facilities would be required.
b. Industry and Natural Resources.
The French and US Air Forces are con-
Local industry cannot support even the
structing jointly a large airfield in Morocco
at Nouaseur, fifteen miles south of Casa-
present relatively small military forces; nor is
this situation likely to be remedied in the im-
blanca. This project is expected to be com-
mediate future, for lack of essential fuels,
pleted in 1951, providing space and facilities
equipment, and skilled labor.
for future US maintenance and repair require-
Food production is little more than adequate
ments similar to the US Naval Air Activity in-
stallations at Port Lyautey.
to meet the normal peacetime requirements
of the native population, and would be insuffi-
d. Police and Security Forces.
cient to supply the needs of a military force.
Although uranium ores are reported, it is
Rural Morocco, northern Algeria, and Tu-
believed that the quantity available is insig-
nisia are policed by units of the Gendarmerie
nificant. Some monazite (a source of thor-
Nationale and the Garde Républicaine (some-
ium) has been reported. (See Chapter II,
times referred to as the Garde Mobile), which
Mineral Resources.)
are under the direction of the French Ministry
C. Science.
of the Interior, but controlled in French North
Africa by the Residents General of Morocco
There are no industrial plants or equipment
and practically no research facilities suitable
and Tunisia and the Governor General of Al-
for the manufacture of atomic weapons.
geria. Although para-military in organiza-
A guided missile and rocket testing range
tion, training, and discipline, these three or-
and experimental station is located at Colomb
ganizations are distinct from the military
Béchar (Algeria). The range has limited in-
forces in North Africa. The cities maintain
strumentation; it will be completed in 1952.
their own police departments. The vast
Another testing range located at Abadla is in
southern territories, which embrace more
the initial project stage.
than half of Algeria, and the whole of the Fez-
A field testing station, operated by the
zan, remain under direct military control.
French Army, for biological and chemical war-
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"ocrText": "SECRET\n41\nAgadir/Ben Sergao, Meknes, and Port Lyautey\n3. War Potential.\nare classified as light bomber fields. With\na. Manpower.\nminor improvements, five others could be used\nBecause Algeria is part of metropolitan\nby light bombers.\nFrance, its male population is subject to con-\nAlgeria has twenty airfields of military sig-\nscription under the laws that require military\nnificance, including: Algiers/Maison Blanche,\ntraining throughout the Republic. Tunisia\nsuitable for medium bomber operations;\nand Morocco, on the other hand, being pro-\nOran/La Senia, capable of limited medium\ntectorates, are not subject to this law. In\nbomber use after runway repair; Blida and\nthese areas, the French rely on voluntary en-\nTafaraoui, for light bombers (nine other air-\nlistment, chiefly from nomadic tribesmen, to\nfields have runways suitable for light bombers,\nfill the ranks of native units of the French\nbut completely lack base facilities); and seven\nArmy.\nfields requiring runway repairs and provision\nAlthough there are over one million males of\nof base facilities to accommodate light\nmilitary age in Algeria fit for some kind of\nbombers.\nmilitary service, conscription in Algeria aver-\nTunis/El Aouina and Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed\nages only 30,000 a year. Voluntary enlist-\nments on an annual basis from the protecto-\nairfields, suitable for light bomber operations,\nrates and from Algeria average far less. Vol-\nare the best airfields in Tunisia. The runway\nunteers are, for the most part, professional\nat Kairouan/Hami is suitable for light bomb-\nsoldiers interested in adventure, plunder, and\ners, but has no base facilities. Three other\nfields show possibilities for light bomber oper-\npensions.\nations, but runway repairs and complete in-\nAt present there is a general lack of equip-\nment and training facilities in the area.\nstallation of field facilities would be required.\nb. Industry and Natural Resources.\nThe French and US Air Forces are con-\nLocal industry cannot support even the\nstructing jointly a large airfield in Morocco\nat Nouaseur, fifteen miles south of Casa-\npresent relatively small military forces; nor is\nthis situation likely to be remedied in the im-\nblanca. This project is expected to be com-\nmediate future, for lack of essential fuels,\npleted in 1951, providing space and facilities\nequipment, and skilled labor.\nfor future US maintenance and repair require-\nFood production is little more than adequate\nments similar to the US Naval Air Activity in-\nstallations at Port Lyautey.\nto meet the normal peacetime requirements\nof the native population, and would be insuffi-\nd. Police and Security Forces.\ncient to supply the needs of a military force.\nAlthough uranium ores are reported, it is\nRural Morocco, northern Algeria, and Tu-\nbelieved that the quantity available is insig-\nnisia are policed by units of the Gendarmerie\nnificant. Some monazite (a source of thor-\nNationale and the Garde Républicaine (some-\nium) has been reported. (See Chapter II,\ntimes referred to as the Garde Mobile), which\nMineral Resources.)\nare under the direction of the French Ministry\nC. Science.\nof the Interior, but controlled in French North\nAfrica by the Residents General of Morocco\nThere are no industrial plants or equipment\nand practically no research facilities suitable\nand Tunisia and the Governor General of Al-\nfor the manufacture of atomic weapons.\ngeria. Although para-military in organiza-\nA guided missile and rocket testing range\ntion, training, and discipline, these three or-\nand experimental station is located at Colomb\nganizations are distinct from the military\nBéchar (Algeria). The range has limited in-\nforces in North Africa. The cities maintain\nstrumentation; it will be completed in 1952.\ntheir own police departments. The vast\nAnother testing range located at Abadla is in\nsouthern territories, which embrace more\nthe initial project stage.\nthan half of Algeria, and the whole of the Fez-\nA field testing station, operated by the\nzan, remain under direct military control.\nFrench Army, for biological and chemical war-\nSECRET"
}