HEAVY FIGHTING IN LAOS REPORTED

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32099, 22 September 1969, Page 15

HEAVY FIGHTING IN LAOS REPORTED

• x . (NX. Press Association—Copyright) VIENTIANE (Laos), September 21. Laotian Government troops backed by US. planes killed at least 1400 North Vietnamese and Communist Pathet Lao forces in two separate actions in north-east and south central Laos two weeks ago, highly-placed Government sources said yesterday.

The sources said that the Government forces also captured a number of Pathet Lao strongholds as well as huge quantities of military supplies and equipment, including four Sovietmade amphibious tanks. They said that the North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao troops were now reported pulling back to the borders to regroup and possibly launch a counter offensive. Royal Laotian troops, comprised mostly of special forces of tribesmen and supported by, U.S. airpower, captured Pathet Lao strongholds in Khang Khay and the entire strategic Plain of Jars, 110 miles north-east of Vientiane, the sources said.

They said that at least 1000 Communist troops were killed, mostly by air bombing strikes. Government troops seized 2000 tons of ammunition and destroyed “dozens” of Russian-made amphibious tanks, they said. In south Central Laos, the sources said that Government troops had recaptured Muong Phine on the North Vietnami ese supply lines about 100

miles east of Savannakhet. The sources said that at least 400 Communists were killed and a hundred weapons captured. They described Communist resistance as “light.” The Laotian Government, meanwhile, reported that more than 10,000 refugees had been evacuated from the Plain of Jars during the last two weeks.