FIGHTING IN TIBET

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 13

FIGHTING IN TIBET

Major Battle At Holy Area

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, June 23

Chinese Communists were fighting a major battle against Tibetan guerrillas at a point midway between two Hindu holy spots in Western Tibet, reports reaching Katmandu, Nepal, said today, according to American Associated Press.

The unconfirmed reports said the Chinese had reinforced a normal 2000-man garrison at Porkha with a full division of 15,000 men to combat the guerrillas. Fighting had been reported in this area for more than a week, but the full extent was unknown. Porkha, on the main east-west Tibetan highway, is between Manasarowar Lake and Mount Kailas, which are just north of the junction between Tibet, India and Nepal. They are traditional destinations of Indian Hindu pilgrims during the summer. The Chinese recently told India to keep pilgrims away this year. The reports indicated battles were continuing at several points in Central Tibet. One was at Saka, 245 miles east of Porkha and 125 miles north of Katmandu, where rebels had been trying to capture an important pass on the east-west highway. In another battie. 130 miles south-east at a point 50 miles north of Mount Everest, rebels at one time captured the important road junction of Shekar Dzong. Fighting was continuing in that area.