POLISH ARMS FOR CONGO TROOPS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29260, 19 July 1960, Page 15

POLISH ARMS FOR CONGO TROOPS

Belgians Prepare To Seize Ship (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LEOPOLDVILLE, July 18. Belgian troops are preparing to take by force a Polish ship due to. enter the Congo river today with 300 tons of Communist weapons for the rebellious Congolese Army. A detachment of battle-trained paratroopers has occupied the island of Bula Bembaat, at the mouth of the river, and taken over heavy jcoastal artillery commanding the river. According to the Belgium State Radio, the United Nations has been told Belgium would consider it an “act of war” if the arms were unloaded.

United Nations staff in the Congo have made no official comment on the situation, but it is understood they will allow the weapons to be landed, provided they are turned over immediately to the United Nations force. Belgium has asked the United Nations to “do something” about the ship. It is understood that the ship was originally destined for Cuba, but was diverted when the Congo situation exploded. Presumably, it will attempt to dock at the port of Matadi, quite near the island which the paratroops have occupied Matadi is still occupied by Congolese troops, though United Nations forces are on the way there. A Reuter dispatch from Leopoldville last night said Radio Congo had announced that the Polish vessel was en route for Matadi with arms and ammunition “within the framework of United Nations technical aid to the Congo.” Yesterday, one of the nine Congolese Secretaries of State. Mr Jacques Lumbala, said that the Prime Minister, Mr Patrice Lumumba, intended to ask for Russian troops unless the, Belgians withdrew within three days.

An incredible scene followed in which the Prime Minister angrily rebuked Mr Lumbala in front of foreign journalists and others. He made no attempt to deny the statement, however.

Later today, a flight of Russian turbo-jet aircraft is expected

to arrive with the first consignment of the 10.000 tons of food promised by the Soviet Union. The consignment will include wheat, canned food and sugar—understood to be the sugar Russia recently bought from Cuba. U.N. Controls Capital

Reuters reported that Belgian troops handed over control of Leopoldville qbietly and unobtrusively to the United Nations troops yesterday. United Nations intervention in the 18-day-old republic spread yesterday when a force of Ghanian soldiers flew to Stanleyville, the Congo’s thirdiargest city. A battalion of Ethiopian soldiers, flying direct from Addis Ababa, is due to join them there later.

But it was learned in Brussels today that Belgian paratroops, swooped on Banningville in the heart of the Congo to rescue trapned and encircled Europeans, have fought a bitter battle with Congolese soldiers.

The Belgian Radio reported that the paratroops had successfully begun evacuating the whites. Congolese mutineers yesterday shot down two Belgian aircraft searching for white refugees in the Congo interior, and a fighter, which had strafed the Congoleseheld Army camp at Thysville. The Belgian Air Force was reported to be using rocket-firing planes against nests of Congolese Army troops firing at small planes that were searching for white refugees.