WAR IN INDOCHINA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 9

WAR IN INDOCHINA

REBELS MASSING FOR BIG ASSAULT SAIGON. April 7. The Vietrrdnh rebels have massed 40,000 men around Moc Chau. 80 miles west of Hanoi, ready to launch an offensive within seven days against Laos, the north-western State of Indo-China, a French military spokesman said tonight. “Such a thrust would be tne most ambitious move they have made since the Indo-China war began seven years ago,” the officer added. Any territory gained in Laos would enable the vierminh to set up a political base where, up to now, they have only conducted sniping activity. A major offiensive in Laos would almost automatically involve the large-scale withdrawal of French forces from the Tonking Delta, where they are fully engaged m occupying their present defensive positions. The high mountains of Laos are rich producers of opium.. a valuable source of income for the Vietminh. The French High Command is concerned over the bad weather, which has prevented observation of tne movements of the rebel forces for, the last two days. The theory that they might move into the Laos area has been discussed for the last month, oyer since they began moving into tne Moc Chau area four divisions which have been resting and re-equipping m tne mountains north of Hanoi. . High officers now say that the °.nen~ sive must come within a week if ns objectives were to be achieved bexore the hot rainy season, due in about six weeks. Greek Border Clash.—A Greek Soldier was killed when Bulgarians ambushed and flred on a Greek patrol along the Greek-Bulgarian frontier on Sunday, the Greek General Staff anEounced today. The incident is being ivestigated by United Nations observers,—Athens, April 7.