Tarawa (CVA 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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Today Algiers serves as the capital of French Algeria, and it is from here that the Governor General and his native deputies regulate the attairs of F-rance's richest possession. ln recent years Algiers has played a significant part in world history. After the November, 1942 opening of the Allied Second Front in North Africa, Algiers became the control point for General DeGaulle and his Free French Forces. Algiers was utilized also as the headquarters tor the Allied forces, during their African campaigns in 1943. Prior history of Algiers has been varied and tempestuous. Orginally the site of a Roman set- tlement called lcosium, it tell into ruins and became the home ot the Berber tribesmen. In 944 A.D. the present city. was founded by Buklculin, who named it el Diezairf' The name became corrupted into Algiers. From about 1530 to 1830, when it capitulated to the French, Algiers nwas the head- quarters of the Barbary Corsairs, who were Berber and Turkish pirates led by European rene- gades. The force tinally required by the French to rout them in 1830 was one of 37,000 men with 4,009 horses, under the ioint command ot Admiral DuPerre and General Bourmount. Ever since this time, with the exception of native b uprisings in 1872 and the temporary occupation by the Axis during World War ll, Algiers has been politically solidified under the French.

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top left top right left bottom left bottom right At its highest point the Rock reoches i396 feet. During the times of clossicol ontiquity it wos one of the Pillars of Hercules, ond morked the extent of seoforing by the eorly Mediterroneon peoples. In English honds since l704, Gibroltor is o Crown Colony whose Governor Generol is olso the Commander in Chief of her defenses. British oscendoncy here ond ot Suez hos given her virtuol control of the Mediterroneon, ond wos on oll importont foctor in Allied successes during World Wor ll. Business section. Gotewoy to the town. Legend hos it that os long cis this fellow ond his componions remoin, so will the English. During the lost wor, o dwindling ope populotion prompted the British Wor Office to rush ct speciol consign- ment of opes to overt o possible morole crisis omong the defenders.

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above Gotewoy to Fronce's most prized possessionj This ponoromic view shows well the modern Algiers with its up to dote port focilities ond buildings. From here the French ship wines, sheep, wool, cork, fruit ond other voluoble exports for trode throughout the world. below Looking North from the Horbor Gordens. r