740.0011 (E. W.)/11–742: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the War Department 41
[Received November 4.]
No. 35. [From Murphy.] Your M–28 message conveyed to Flagpole who states that he will cooperate. Flagpole states that he is prepared to operate in one of two ways. 1. He will seize command in Algiers—his superiors are Juin and Koeltz—. In that case he would require 4 days notice before Torch to make preparations. 2. If we are unwilling to give 4 days notice he will be unable to seize command. In that case we must be willing to risk combat resulting from orders given by General Juin but Flagpole will facilitate our entry to the best of his ability. In any case he asks that our forces debark at as many points in the Algiers and Oran Districts simultaneously as may be possible for [sic] particularly in the region of Sidi-Ferruch. Flagpole suggests that he prefers number 2 because of element of surprise. Thus far no alarm here.
We hope that our messenger will return from Marseille today with decision of Kingpin. Flagpole believes Kingpin will decide to come on November 5 and inquired whether submarine would be at place described in my 577 Nov 2, 5 p.m.42 [Murphy.]