BATTLE FOR KATANGA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29620, 16 September 1961, Page 11

BATTLE FOR KATANGA

Strong Attack On U.N. Base

(ti ZJ 1 A.-Reuter—Copyright) ELISABETHVILLE, September 15. , The big United Nations airfield and military base at Kamina, defended by Irish and Swedish troops, came under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire today as the Congo’s secessionist province of Katanga stubbornly kept up its fight for independence, reported the Associated Press.

The United Nations ordered the evacuation of civilian personnel from the north Katanga base and planes began flying them out to Leopoldville. White officers, most of them thought to be Belgians, are believed by the United Nations to be directing the new Katangese attack on Kamina.

The huge former Belgian base is several hundred miles from the Katangese capital of Elisabethville, where last night sporadic shooting was- still going on after a day of bitter violence. The spread of violence to Kamina caused the United Nations Secretary-General (Mr Hammarskjold). who arrived in Leopoldville two days ago, to call a hurried conference with his top military officers in Leopoldville. United Nations officials in Leopoldville said today that they were investigating reports as yet unconfirmed that 20 Irish soldiers had been lined up against a wall at Jadotville and shot and that five or more other Irish soldiers had been killed there. One thousand tribal warriors have been called into the attack against Irish troops of the United Nations forces fighting for their lives in Katanga. The paramount chief of the Ayeke tribe has ordered the warriors to attack the Irish "without quarter.” The heavy forces of Katanga troops reported to have encircled and to be laying down mortar fire on the Irish troops at Jadotville, 70 miles north-west of Elisabethville, are also said to have called up a parachute company.

The Irish troops, whose average age is only 24 and who are experiencing their first action, had no fortified camp. They were billeted in villas along a road. At Elizabethville, both sides were yesterday fighting desperately, shooting at sight anything that moved. Unofficial estimates put the total at about 100 on both sides. The United Nations command was bringing reinforcements by air as street battles continued throughout the dav.

Between 30 and 40 Euroneans are reported to have been seen in action with the Katangese. which probably accounts for Indian troops firing on unarmed civilians. They are believed to be white officers of the Katanga gendarmerie awaiting repatriation. Katanga Government sources claim thousands of Katangese reinforcements, both trained troops and tribal

volunteers and warriors, are streaming towards Elisabethville. United Nations civil officials dare not show their faces in the city, but are remaining at the military camp on the outskirts. An Associated Press correspondent said an Irish armoured car commander had told him that the Indian troops of the United Nations force were completely out of control. They were firing at anvthing. Wounded Katangese were refusing to be taken to hospital in ambulances as two of these had already been fired on. One report said 21 Katangese policemen had been found lying shot in the back behind the Katanga radio station in Elisabethville. A statement to the press issued in the name of President Tshombe and his Government said he intended to “fight to the last soldier and the last bullet.”