SETBACK IN LAOS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31585, 24 January 1968, Page 13

SETBACK IN LAOS

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright) LUANG PRABANG (Laos), Jan. 22. Government control north of the Royal capital of Laos has completely crumbled, according to qualified military sources.

This, they say, leaves the city on the Mekong River, open to attack by the North Vietnamese and Pahet Lao troops who seized a key Government strong point 60 miles to the north a week ago. Fresh battalions of Government troops ringed Luang Prabang as American helicopters continued over the weekend to bring in Laotians who had fled without a major fight from the Nam Bac base, to the north. Laothian military sources say all Government posts between Nam Bac and Luang Prabang have also been evac-

uated and that Government control extends only a few miles from Luang Prabang in any direction. Senior Laotian officers say they expect a major attack on the Royalist capital. Western sources in Vientiane, the administrative capital say the Communists have scored their biggest victory in nearly three years, but the Communists are said to have given clear signs through third parties that they do not want to break the delicate balance that has saved Laos from all-out fight-

ing since the 1962 Geneva Agreement. To upset this balance would risk the major involvement of United States forces in Laos, and possible heavy bombing against Hanoi, Haiphong and other cities. Nam Bac was a Communist area until Royalist troops seized the valley in 1966. The Communist recapture of the area returns to them a major operational base halfway between the North Vietnamese Army and supply headquarters at Dien Bein Phu and the Royal capital.