Evening star., 1946-12-23
Blum Sends Le Clerc
To Indo-China, Sees
Grdver Situation
Tank War Specialist
Dispatched to Back
Up Firm Policy
BULLETIN

PARIS P.-President Leon
Blum said today the serious"
situation in Indo-China may
worsen in the next few weeks
and announced he was dis
patching Gen. Jasques LIE
Clerc, armored warfare spe-
cialist Of World War II, to the
scene. Addressing the National
Assembly, he promised a policy
| of firmness against Viet-Nam
forces.
BY the Associated Press
PARIS, Dec. 23.-French troops
attacked Viet-Nam positions in
City Hall and postofflce and the
Indo-C Chinese quarter of Hanoi
today in the swelling battle for
control of the battered capital of
the Viet-Nam Republic, the
French Press Agency said.
French authorities were quoted as
saying 20 French civilians, includ-
ing II women, had been killed In
recent fighting for the capital, and
their bodies were brutally mutilated.
The French onslaught was opened
with bombardment by planes and
field guns of Viet-Nam troops In a
strongly fortified barracks which
formerly housed Indo Chinese
guards, the news agency said.
Old Guns Being Used.
Viet-Nam batteries were reported
shelling the French-held citadel
with old 75-millimeter guns which
japanese took previously from the
French.
French armored units and in
fantry battled for possession Of the
Rue Cotton. main thoroughfare OF
the Chinese district to the
north of the capital. Other French
troops were reported advancing
down the Boulevard Gambetta
south of the downtown district.
FEench engineers struggled to re-
pair the damaged power plant and
restore electrical service. The city
also was described as without water
The French news agency an
nounced the proclamation of a
state of siege in Tonkin and North
ern AMMAN.
Japs Among Slain Guards.
French official circles, the agency
said, announced that the bodies
of some japanese were among the
guards killed defending the Hanoi
residence of the Viet-Nam presi-
dent, Ho Chi Mini, when it was
stormed by French troops Decem-
ber 18.
French police arrested numerous
natives, whom they described as
"Viet-Nam personages," on charges
of having participated in the Tran
Trong Kim government set up by
the japanese in 1945.
The French military operations
followed by a few hours the return
from Paris of the French high COM
missioner, Admiral Georges Thierry
d'Argenlieu. Meanwhile in Paris
the National Assembly awaited a
statement by Premier Leon Blum
on the Indo- Chinese situation.
A decree was published by the
French setting up a civil guard
presumably a body in which French
civilians would be deputized to act
with military and police powers.
Another decree ousted the Indo-
Chinese Mayor of Hanoi and in
stalled a French administrator
named La Riviere in his place.
Summary Executions Banned.
French dispatches from Hanoi
said security forces had orders to
distinguish between the mass of the
population and "Viet-Nam" mill
tants who seem to suspect them"
French authorities have formally
forbidden the undertaking of sum-
mary executions" it was announced.
The French said they had no in
formation on the location of the
secret headquarters to which Wet
Nam government leaders have fed
A clandestine Viet-Nam radio sta
ton remained in operation. The
(See FRENCH. A-3.)