Foreign Legion Forms In Congo

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30529, 26 August 1964, Page 17

Foreign Legion Forms In Congo

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LEOPOLDVILLE, August 25. A foreign mercenary force will begin military operations against Communist rebels in the eastern Congo within a few days the “New York Times” News Service says.

A Government spokesman denied reports that mercenaries were being hired, but informants say a mercenary force has already been assembled at the Kamina military base in Katanga and would be pressed into use almost immediately.

According to the informants, about 80 mercenaries are in training at Kamina, a huge former Belgian base 260 miles north-west of Elisabethville. Most of them are South Africans or Rhodesians, many of whom fought for Premier Tshombe when he was President of the secessionist Katanga Province.

Another group of about 30 mercenaries, including* men from most European countries, arrived in Leopoldville yesterday.

They are expected to go to Kamina within the next few days. The use of South African ! mercenaries would strengthen the view of most Africans that Mr Tshombe is a pawn of the white man, the “New York Times” says. Plans call for organisation of six special “columns" which will be composed of mercenaries and Congolese soldiers Modern Arms Each column will be headed by a Congolese officer and will have about 300 Congolese soldiers and 50 mercenaries. The 50 mercenaries will be used as a “spearhead” at the head of the column to break through rebel positions. The mercenaries will be armed with Belgian automatic weapons; and use jeeps and trucks and other heavy equipment provided to the Congo by the United States udder a military aid programme. Each column is expected to have air support, provided by planes of the Congolese Air Force.

British Leader United Press International says the force will be commanded by Major M. Hoare, a British former Tank Corps officer who fought in the Burma campaign during World War 11. Some of the volunteers are former British officers from Kenya who fought the terrorist Mau Mau. Most of the “legionnaires” are experienced jungle-

fighters who speak Swahili or another African language. A group of about 30 Belgians, Frenchmen and other Europeans arrived in Leopoldville last night from Brussels to fight the Congolese rebels. They arrived soon after a Government spokesman had denied foreign press reports of an influx of white mercenaries into the Congo. “But we could use some military advisers,” the spokesman added, “and we are at present negotiating with the Belgian Government about this.”