1.
LV & SV DOME OF SORBONNE UNIVERSITY DECORATED WITH FLAGS.
0.05

2.
CU SIGN "UNIVERSITE DE PARIS" OVER ENTRANCE.
0.06

3.
GV PAN: POLICE CORDON OUTSIDE UNIVERSITY. (2 SHOTS).
0.16

4.
GV STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITY COURTYARD.
0.21

5.
CU PAN: BANNER "COMMUNISTE REVOLUTIONNAIRE"
0.24

6.
GV STUDENTS SELLING LITERATURE - TILT UP TO POSTERS AND BANNERS ON WALL (MAO TSE TUNG AND CHE GUEVARE).
0.25

7.
CU SIGN CHALKED ON STATUE "6 MORTS".
0.32

8.
CU SIGN ON DOOR "INFERMERIE".
0.35

9.
SV STUDENT DOCTOR ON GUARD OUTSIDE.
0.40

10.
CU MEDICAL STUDENT PLAYING GUITAR.
0.45'

11.
GV DITTO AND STUDENTS REFLEXING IN SUN.
0.51

12.
CU HELMET AND GAS MASK - TILT UP TO MEDICAL STUDENTS STANDING BY.
1.02

13.
LV & SV LARGE CROWD OF C.R.S. POLICE ADVANCE ON STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS.
1.12

14.
GV STUDENTS FLEEING
1.13

15.
SV STUDENT AMBULANCE ARRIVES.
1.18

16.
GV MEMBERS OF UNIVERSITY RED CROSS TEAM ATTEND INJURED DEMONSTRATOR.
1.21

17.
GV STUDENT DEMONSTRATOR CARRIED TO AMBULANCE ON STRETCHER.
1.29

18.
SV PAN: ANOTHER INJURED DEMONSTRATOR HELPED TO AMBULANCE.
1.34

19.
CU SIGN "INTERDIT AU PUBLIC" ON DOOR.
1.37

20.
GV STUDENT ACTIVITY IN RECTOR'S OFFICE - PAN TO BOOKCASE.
1.52

21.
CU BOOKS.
1.55

22.
CU PAN: DRUGS AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES ON SHELVES.
2.03

23.
CU OXYGEN CYLINDER.
2.06

24.
GV (TAKEN FROM WINDOW OF RECTOR'S OFFICE) PLACE WHERE STUDENTS SLEEP IN TENTS.
2.11

25.
GV PAN: INT. ANOTHER ROOM USED AS FIRST AID STATION.
2.17

26.
CU MEDICAL SUPPLIES IN CUPBOARD.
2.30

27.
SV PAN: MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SCATTERED AROUND THE ROOM.
2.40

28.
SV IN CELLAR, TABLE WHICH IS USED BY STUDENTS FOR MINOR OPERATION.
2.45

29.
SV OXYGEN CYLINDERS STACKED IN CORNER.
2.48

30.
SV STUDENT CHECKING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN CELLAR.
2.54

31.
SV DITTO PAN: TO PATIENTS IN BED.
3.07

32.
SV PATIENTS - TILT UP TO SIGN "DEFENSE DE FUMER"
3.12

33.
SV & CU STUDENT DOCTOR / CHECKS PATIENT'S PULSE
3.21

34.
CU STUDENT WITH PATCH OVER HIS EYE GESTICULATES TO CAMERAMAN.
3.26

35.
GV & SV STUDENTS IN YARD OUTSIDE FIRST AID STATION. (2 SHOTS)
3.39



Initials TDH/V/BOB/PF



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE SORBONNE IN PARIS - EUROPE'S SECOND OLDEST UNIVERSITY - HAS BEEN RINGED BY A STRONG CORDON OF FRENCH SECURITY FORCES SINCE ITS OCCUPATION BY THE STUDENTS MORE THAN THREE WEEKS AGO. ITS HALLOWED PRECINCTS "OUT OF BOUNDS" TO THEM UNDER THE TERMS OF A STATUTE DATING BACK TO MIDDLE OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED BY ONE ROBERT DE SORBON AS THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CONTROLLED THE COUNTRY'S EDUCATION.

THEY WAIT FOR AN INCIDENT WHICH WILL NECESSITATE THEIR INTERVENTION, OR THE UNLIKELIHOOD OF AN INVITATION TO ENTER. MEANWHILE, THE SORBONNE RESEMBLES A MEDIEVAL CASTLE. IN THE GRAND COURTYARD STUDENTS GATHER TO HAMMER OUT POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES, THE POSSIBLE COURSE OF EVENTS, THE FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS, HOW THEIR FAMILIES ARE FARING - AND THE UPCOMING SUMMER VACATION.

HIGHLY ORGANISED, THE BESIEGED STUDENTS HAVE IN EFFECT PRODUCED AN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC. STUDENTS EAT HERE, SLEEP HERE, CREATE AND ORATE HERE. THERE IS A COMMITTEE OF CO-ORDINATION - THE STUDENTS GOVERNMENT, A PRESS OFFICE, POLICE FORCE, SELF OPERATED KITCHENS AND LAUNDRIES, NURSERY FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE 'FORCE D'OCCUPATION', AND A HOSPITAL MANNED BY THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS AIDED BY VOLUNTEER DOCTORS.

THE INFIRMARY OF THE SORBONNE IS THE MOST RIGIDLY GUARDED PART OF THE BUILDING NOW. STUDENTS FEAR POLICE RETALIATION IF ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE WOUNDED AND SICK, AND SPECIAL GUARDS PREVENT CAMERAMEN FROM GETTING NEAR THEM. THIS EXCLUSIVE FILM IS THE FIRST TO SHOW THE STUDENTS EFFORTS TO MEND AND CURE THOSE INJURED IN THE MANY CLASHES WITH THE C.R.S. (COMPAGNIE REPUBLICAINE DE SECURITE), THE PARA-MILITARY UNIT CREATED DURING THE UNEASY DAYS OF GENERAL DE GAULLE'S PROVISIONAL PRESIDENCY IN 1944, WHO WITH A FEROCITY THAT SHOCKED ALL WHO SAW IT, DROVE THE STUDENTS FROM THE BARRICADES. AFTER THE 'NIGHT OF THE BARRICADES' - MAY 10 & 11 - IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT 367 STUDENTS AND SPECTATORS HAD BEEN INJURED, 22 SERIOUSLY.

THE SORBONNE'S OWN MEDICAL CORPS WAS PROBABLY THE BRAVEST THING THE STUDENT REVOLUTION HAS PRODUCED. THROUGH THE CORDONS OF STUDENTS AND POLICE AND ACROSS THE STRIPS OF NO-MAN'S LAND THEY MOVED. TIME AND AGAIN THEY PHYSICALLY SNATCHED INJURED VICTIMS FROM THE POLICE. THEY HAD ORGANISED THEIR OWN AMBULANCE SERVICE OF PRIVATE CARS, AND RUSHED THE VICTIMS TO THE VARIOUS AID STATIONS CLANDESTINELY ARRANGED IN VARIOUS COLLEGES. WHEN THE SOBORNNE WAS OCCUPIED ON MAY 13TH, THE INJURED WERE MOVED INTO THE CATACOMBS WHERE CAMPS BEDS HAD BEEN SET ALONGSIDE THE BOILERS.

OPERATIONS WERE PERFORMED ON A TABLE IN THE RECTOR'S BOOK-LINED OFFICE, NOW TRANSFORMED BY THE ADDITION OF EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO MEND A BROKEN BODY AND SAVE LIFE. DRUGS AND MEDICINES WERE PLENTIFULLY SUPPLIED BY A SYMPATHETIC POPULACE, AND VOLUNTEERS FROM LOCAL HOSPITALS GAVE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT UNSTINTINGLY.

THE PATIENTS SUFFER MOSTLY FROM EYE DAMAGE, AND FOR SOME THERE MAY BE PERMANENT BLINDNESS AS ONE OF THE TWO TYPES OF GAS USED CONTAINS AN ELEMENT UNIDENTIFIED BY BOTH DOCTORS AND POLICE AND FOR WHICH AT PRESENT THERE IS NO KNOWN ANTIDOTE. THE GAS HAS ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO LUNGS AND LIVER. SOME ARE SUFFERING FROM KIDNEY HAEMORRHAGES, SEVERE CUTS, BRUISES AND CONCUSSION, ALL CAUSED BY COMBAT WITH THE RIOT POLICE.

MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED STUDENTS WERE TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITALS FOR SPECIALIZED TREATMENT, BUT THE MAJORITY HAVE BEEN AND ARE BEING TREATED IN THE SORBONNE.

RIOTING AND BARRICADES HAVE, FOR THE TIME BEING, VANISHED FROM THE STREETS OF THE LATIN QUARTER, AND THE FLOW OF COMBAT-WOUNDED HAS STOPPED. BUT THE ORGANISATION AND STATE OF PREPAREDNESS IS MAINTAINED AT A HIGH-LEVEL OF READINESS. IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.