VARIOUS SHOTS OF THE BEACH BEING CLEANED AT PERROS GUIREC; MEN POURING SAWDUST ON THE OIL AT SEA; OIL-COVERED BIRDS BEING CLEANED.




Initials JUS/V/CR/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A 15 MILLION FRANC (ABOUT GBP1,000,000 STERLING) CREDIT TO FIGHT THE OIL LAPPING THE FRENCH COAST FROM THE SUNKEN TANKER TORREY CANYON, AND ADMITTED IT WAS "SOMEWHAT HELPLESS" IN THE FACE OF THE TRAGEDY INFORMATION MINISTER GEORGES GORSE SAID THAT MORE MONEY WOULD NO DOUBT FOLLOW AND THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST THE OIL WOULD BE WAGED BY ALL METHODS.

THE CREDIT FOLLOWED DEMANDS IN THE FRENCH PRESS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPLAIN WHY ITS EXPERTS HAD FAILED TO PREDICT THE POSSIBILITY OF BRITTANY BEING AFFECTED BY THE OIL, AND WHY FULL PRECAUTIONS WERE NOT TAKEN EARLIER.

THREE THOUSAND TROOPS STATIONED IN WESTERN FRANCE HAVE BEEN PUT AT THE DISPOSAL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES TO HELP FIREMEN, POLICE AND CIVILIANS CLEAR THE BEACHES. OIL TANKER LORRIES ARE BEING USED TO PUMP AWAY THE OIL. FISHERMEN USING BUCKETS AND SPADES ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO REDUCE THE LAYERS OF OILY SLIME.

LOUDSPEAKER APPEALS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CLEAN THE BEACHES, BUT ONLY ABOUT ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE REPORTED TO HAVE TURNED OUT.

NINE FRENCH NAVY SHIPS ARE WORKING ON THE OFF-SHORE OIL PATCHES AND A FLEET OF REQUISITIONED FISHING VESSELS IS TRYING TO CLEAR THE POLLUTED RIVER ESTUARIES. SO FAR THE AUTHORITIES HAVE USED SAWDUST AND A POWDER BASED ON VOLCANIC ASH TO TRY AND COAGULATE THE OIL SO THAT IT CAN MORE EASILY BE BURNED OR SKIMMED OFF THE SURFACE.