CHINESE ENCIRCLE INDIAN OUTPOST

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29872, 12 July 1962, Page 11

CHINESE ENCIRCLE INDIAN OUTPOST

Govt. Protests Strongly, Sends Reinforcements (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW DELHI, July 11. Indian troop reinforcements were last night rushed to an Army outpost closely encircled by Chinese troops in Kashmir.

hirst news of the Chinese action came when the Indian Government released the text of a strong protest lodged with the Chinese Ambassador, Pan Tzu-li.

The Indian Note said 400 Chinese troops had moved “threateningly” to within 50 yards of the outpost, in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh.

Government sources in New Delhi said latest reports indicated there had been no armed clash, but the Chinese were apparently intent on capturing the post. The Indian Note said "detailed verification” showed Indian border guards had not provoked a Chinese patrol as claimed earlier in a Chinese Note.

The Note accused the Chinese troops of advancing into the Galwan Valley—a

■ distance of 25 miles into Indian territory from the boundary line shown in Chinese maps of 1956—and said this was a "serious violation of Indian territory. It must be vacated,” the Note said. Authoritative Indian sources said in New Delhi last Sunday that a Chinese protest Note to India that day about border troop movements itself shewed the Chinese had advanced at least 25 miles and broke into the Galwan Valley. The sources described the Chinese advance Ipto the valley as “most serious.” The Chinese control about 14,000 square miles of Ladakh, which they claim as Chinese territory. The sources said Chinese troops there had hitherto been confined to the Chip Chap Valley. The Indian protest Note

said: “On detailed verification it has been found that Indian border guards have note . . . encountered any Chinese patrol on and up to July 9.”

It said that more than 48 hours after the dispatch of the Chinese Note, Chinese soldiers encircled the post “threateningly" and began to prepare “for hostile action.”