In Brief

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31941, 19 March 1969, Page 13

In Brief

Lifeboat Missing

A lifeboat with a crew of eight is reported missing in stormy seas off the north coast of Scotland early today, and a search for it was to be started at dawn. The lifeboat, from the Orkney Islands, was on her way to assist the grounded 2636-ton Liberian cargo ship Irene. Seventeen crew-members of the Irene were taken off by another lifeboat.—Aberdeen, March 18. Lost Over Laos

At least 100 United States aircraft have been shot down over Laos since the American air war in the border nation was intensified after the halt of the bombing of North Vietnam, informed United States sources in Saigon said today. Most of the American strikes have been along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which winds from the Mu Gia Pass, in North Vietnam, to a series of points near the border with South Vietnam.—Saigon, March 18. Violation Alleged The Malaysian Prime Minister (Tunku Abdul Rahman) has threatened to complain to the United Nations about an alleged violation of Malaysian air space near Sabah by Philippines aircraft last Friday. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said a plane “presumed” to be of Philippines origin apparently violated Malaysian air space near Semporna, the nearest point of Sabah to the Southern Phillippines, but he declined to confirm this absolutely. The Philippines Foreign Secretary (Mr Carlos Romulo) has refuted the allegation.—Kuala Lumpur, Ma®h 18.