Navy, Army Fight In Bangkok Streets

Northern Advocate, 28 February 1949, Page 5

Navy, Army Fight In Bangkok Streets

BANGKOK, Sun. (11 a.m.).—Fighting between naval and army elements of the Siamese services broke out in the main streets of Bangkok last night. The fighting began shortly after unknown persons had seized temporary control of the Bangkok Government radio at 9.30 p.m. and announced that the Premier (Phibul) and his Cabinet had resigned. The announcement added that the new Premier was Nai Direck Jayanama, former Siamese ambassador to London, and a member of the wartime Free Thai underground movement. The radio went off the air during the annuoncement and when it resumed broadcasting' later said Phibul was still Premier and the interruption was not authorised. Heavy sporadic artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire ensued at the arsenal, Grand Palace and near Phibul’s residence between midnight and daylight. Casualties include an unknown number of dead and wounded. A reliable eye-witness said he saw bodies being loaded into trucks. DAWN CLASH Army-controlled armoured vehicles fought a dawn street battle with marine-manned - anti-tank guns near Phibul’s residence. Vehicles and guns suffered direct hits. By noon the opposing Army and Navy units had ceased fighting. Meanwhile, Army-controlled and Navy-controlled radios broadcast simultaneously to the Bangkok population conflicting bulletins. The Army claimed to have quelled a revolt of dissident elements while the Navy-controlled radio claimed that there had been “brutal fighting” after the Army had opposed naval elements trying to do their duty to the nation.”

The police seized and guarded the. post office and both radio and air communications out of Bangkok were suspended.