FRENCH CONFIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27521, 16 October 1950, Page 5

FRENCH CONFIDENT

Success In Indo-China MORE MEN AND ARMS REQUIRED NZPA—Copyright Rec. 6.30 p.m. SAIGON, Oc.t. 14. Reinforcements from Madagascar and North Africa are on their way to Indo-China to help the Freftch troops. The reinforcements are described as “ only a first contingent of the necessary force.” Though terming the situation in Indo-China as serious, French military authorities in Paris said they Were confident that with more men and adequate American arms they would decisively defeat the insurgents, but that, they added, depended on Communist China not taking an active part in the fighting. In Washington, United States Government officials said the United States planned to shift substantial numbers of planes, artillery, and other weapons from Korea to Indo-China as soon as the Korean war conditions permitted. The officials also reported that in the last few days the United States had raised its arms shipments to IndoChina to world priority No. 2, with Korea No. 1. They said, however, that no American troops or airmen would take over combat roles in Indo-China.

The bulk of the French garrison which evacuated the fortress of Thatke, on the Chinese frontier has fought its way safely to Nacham, 30 miles to the south-east. An army spokesman said that, at the same time, more than 700 remnants of the “ bloody frontier battle to destruction ” with Viet Minh forces between October 2 and October* 6 10 reached the French mountain pass fortress of Lagson, south-east of Nacham.