"The Guns Are Silent"

In the bled, Algeria's countryside, the atmosphere resembled a county fair.

Green, white and red flags of the Moslem F.L.N. fluttered from poles and buildings.

Huge, noisy election rallies filled town after town, as Moslems crowded to hear about this week's referendum, which is creating an independent Algeria "associated" with France. The fervent speeches were generally unheard in the shouting, music and indiscriminate firing in air--the traditional means of expressing high spirits in North Africa. Roads were blocked by cars whose horns blared out the six-count beat of "Algerie algerienne," instead of the hated five-count "Algerie franc,aise" of the European Secret Army.

On walls, bridges, pavements blossomed a new slogan: "Un Seul Heros le Peuple!" (The Only Hero Is the People).

F.L.N. representatives pleaded for responsible behavior. A speaker told a Moslem rally at Blida: "Independence is not a panacea. The watchwords are work, will power, obedience, discipline." In Tunis the F.L.N. leaders who seven years ago launched the war against France prepared for the return to Algeria. But as peace moved ever closer between Moslems and Europeans, there were rumors of violent discord in the F.L.N., with the lines being drawn between Premier Benyoussef Benkhedda, who heads the moderates, and the left-wing radicals under Vice Premier Mohammed ben Bella, who argues that the F.L.N. is being too soft on the S.A.O. and becoming too dependent on France.

While Moslems, divided or not, hailed the coming of freedom, frightened Europeans watched the death throes of the Secret Army. In Algiers the S.A.O. had already abandoned the fight. Even in Oran, where resistance lasted longest, the terrorists last week melted away. Ex-General Paul Gardy, nominal head of the S.A.O. for all Algeria, fled the country with his top commanders. The illegal S.A.O. transmitter in Oran went on the air a final time. "Our struggle has become hopeless and therefore senseless," said the announcer, and then added brokenly, "Algeria is dead. The will of God be done." Getting ready to go home, French High Commissioner Christian Fouchet appealed to Moslems and Europeans alike for "necessary" French-Algerian cooperation: ''The fires and passions are slowly being extinguished. The guns are silent and peace is here again. For the sake of heaven, take this opportunity--don't let it go by or history will never forgive you."

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