FALL OF TOWN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29832, 26 May 1962, Page 11

FALL OF TOWN

Provincial Capital (N.Z .P.A .-Reuter—Copyright > BANGKOK, May 25. The Prime Minister of Thailand (Marshal Sarlt Thanarat) said today he had received a report that the southern Laotian provincial capital of Saravane had fallen to the pro - Communist Pathet Lao forces. Saravane, in south central Laos, has long been in the “front-line” of the Rightwing Laotian regime's defence against the Pathet Lao. It lies about 60 or 70 miles from the Thai border. Marshal Sarit, who has just returned from a provincial tour by helicopter, told reporters he knew no details. It was not known whether, if the town had fallen, it had been taken by force, or simply evacuated by the Rightists and taken over by the Pathet Lao. The Left-wingers claimed this was how they came to take control of Nam Tha, the northern town whose fail led to Western allegations that the Pathet Lao had broken the Laos cease-fire and to the present drafting in of S.E.A.T.O. forces to the nearby Thai frontier.

Monorail For London Likely (Special Crspdt. W.Z.P.A.) LONDON. May 25. There is a “fairly good possibility” of a train monorail system being introduced between central London and London airport. Lord Douglas, chairman of British European Airways, said on his return from France, where he has been inspecting the monorail system near Orleans.

If such a system were introduced, he s»id. the journey could be completed in about 15 minutes.

In the French version, the monorail coach is driven by twin sets of overhead rubber wheels running on two closely set tracks.