According to a curious, but not unwise, tradition in the French army, for a stipulated period retiring generals continue to remain subject to military discipline and all its restrictions, receiving in exchange certain privileges, such as a grace and favour office and sometimes a skeleton staff. In early September Salan broke the rules by announcing his intention to return to Algiers to live out his retirement in the villa he had purchased there for that purpose — without obtaining permission from Messmer, the Minister of Defence.

DEFINE: Clarifies the unusual French army tradition where retiring generals stay subject to military discipline in exchange for privileges.

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 1279