REBELS IN LAOS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28980, 22 August 1959, Page 13

REBELS IN LAOS

Major Drive Expected

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) VIENTIANE (Laos), August 20. Communist rebels in Northern Laos were probably about to unleash a major offensive to retake the two provinces of Sam Neua and Phong Saly, a Laotian Army communique said today. It said rebel activities had begun again after a two-week lull, which had enabled the rebels to send reinforcements and supplies through to isolated units. A Defence Ministry spokesman admitted today that rebel activity was now restricted to minor patrol clashes on the northern border region. The communique, however, predicted that rebel guerrilla action might spread throughout all Laos. It said that two -battalions of the Communist North Vietnam Army were at Banmati, in southern Sam Neua Province. It said the two battalions, part of 174 regiment, 316 division, had been stationed along the LaosVietnam border for several days. Unconfirmed reports from Army sources in Sam Neua said that the rebels now had a loose hold over a fifth of the province, and that the Laotian Army was losing men daily. The Defence Ministry spokesman would offer no comment on the extent of the casualties, but said reports that the territory was held by the rebels could be true.