HANOI IN PERIL

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27401, 14 July 1954, Page 11

HANOI IN PERIL

Evacuation Plan (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) HANOI, July 12. An official French source said tonight that plans were ready to evacuate 6200 French civilians from Hanoi by air at 24 hours notice. "But we have received no orders to put the plans into effect,” he said. French tanks and infantry yesterday repulsed the first big Vietminh attack on the new French defence line south of Hanoi, the French High Command said. The French Union forces killed 424 Vietminh when a Vietminh force of 3000 tried to cut off Hungyen, an outpost of a new defence line 20 miles south of Hanoi. French losses in the five-hour battle were "appreciable,” the spokesman said. There were also minor clashes northwest and north-east of Hanoi as the Vietminh tightened the grip around the French defences. Authoritative sources estimated that at least 100 secret Communist cells inside Hanoi were preparing to aid rebel troops in the final battle for the Tonking capital. The cells form the hard-core of about 100,000 Communists and sympathisers in Hanoi, these sources said. Hanoi itself was becoming a bastion. Barbed wire entanglements encircled the city. Entrances to the power stations and post offices were being reinforced, and guards had been increased around the airfields, military installations and on key streets. The French High Command said it had increased air attacks over the Red River Delta area in an effort to keep the rebel units off balance.