BATTLE FOR HANOI

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27147, 17 September 1953, Page 9

BATTLE FOR HANOI

Vietminh Begin Offensive (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 pun.) SAIGON, Sept. 16. The French High Command in IndoChina announced today that the Communists had launched jtheir longawaited autumn offensive against the vital Hanoi perimeter and had inflicted telling blows on the defenders. The French communique said the French and loyal Indo-Chinese forces were hitting back, and heavy fighting was developing. The communique disclosed that the Communists have been staging powerful “hit and run” raids against the concrete and steel bastibns of the Hanoi defence line for the last 10 days. They attacked 15 strongpoints and captured four, only to withdraw after destroying captured weapons and equipment.

A French spokesman said the raids could be called the opening of the autumn campaign, which had not been expected to start until the end of the rainy ’season in mid-October. The French High Command said the Communist-led Vietminh army would launch a big offensive in the Red river delta* area of Tonking in the middle of

October. The Vietminh Commander-in-Chief (General Giap) originally Planned to begin the attack yesterday, ut was forced to change his plans because of the successful French raids on Vietminh bases. A Reuter dispatch says a Vietminh success in this area would open up the whole of South-east Asia to communism.. The French Army High Command announced yesterday that French forces had finally removed the Vietminh threat to the Laotian capital of Luang Prabang. The capital has been threatened since the big Vietminh drive last April.