FRENCH LEAVE LAOKAY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26261, 4 November 1950, Page 7

FRENCH LEAVE LAOKAY

No Casualties In Retreat

(N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright) (Rec. 12.30 am.) SAIGON, Nov. 3. French forces have completed the evacuation of Laokay, a key French outpost in Northern Indo-China. The garrison, consisting of French, Algerian, Senegalese, and Vietnamese troops, has withdrawn to the west. Heavy equipment was evacuated by air and the rest destroyed. A French military spokesman said to-day that tire evacuation of Laokay began on Wednesday and ended "favourably'' yesterday. Bad weather prevented air support, but the evacuation was carried out “normally” with virtually no Vietminh intervention. A few shots were exchanged, but there were no casualties.

The evacuation followed recent Sinking movements by Vietminh forces around Laokay. There has been a general stiffening in the French defence of the northern sector of the Tonking front, where smell outposts were established in the Dinhlao region. To the south-west around Thaibinh, a French patrol was ambushed. Five were wounded and 10 rebels were killed. In the same sector, a French outpost. which was lost to the rebels on Wednesday, was recaptured. A spokesman said there had been a general decrease in insurgent activity in Cochin-China yesterday except in the Thudaumoi sector. Vietminh losses in Cochin-China were 18 killed and 20 captured. In the Dongvan region of the Hadong sector, rebel pressure forced tne French to counter-attack, and 12 rebels were killed.

Around Hadong, a spokesman reSrted intensive patrol activity with rebels killed near Namdinh. On the Annam coast sector, a Vietminh ambush, nine miles south of Tu rane. failed. Frencn reinforcements killed 50 rebels, captured 20. and wounded several.