The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-12-23
Viet Namese. French Clash In Indo-China
Authorities Proclaim Martial Ldw

Saigon. Dec. 23--(UP)-Martial Iaw was proclaimed by French auth critics throughout northern Indo- China today as rebelling Wet Nam forces battled French troops for con- trol of key localities in Tonkin and Annam provinces
 Colonial authorities took extra ordinary precautions here in view of the possibility that the fighting might spread to the southern prov ince of Cochin China.
 The martial law proclamation co- incided with the arrival today oi French high commissioner for Indo- China Admiral Thierry D'Angenlieu' The commissioner arrived by air from Paris where he conferred on the Indo-C Chinese crisis with Pre- mier Leon Blum and other high oi- ficials.
 Northern Area Aflame
 The proclamation said that "any man not in uniform found carry ing arms will be shot.
 The whole of northern 1ndo- China was reported today to be aflame with armed resistance to French authority as French troops struggled to crush widely separated attacks by forces of the pro-inde- pendence Viet Nam Republic.
 The road connecting the colonial capital Hanoi with the seaport Hal phong was cut by the rebels many times during the last 48 hours ol- ficial sources said.
 French troops extended mopping up operations around garriSons In Tongking and Annam provinces that had been besieged by Viet Nam sol- diers. the sources said
 Frenhc Casualties High
 They gave French losses as 50 dead and l50 wounded. Rebel casu- alties were unofficially calculated at upwards of POO dead and many more wounded.
 It was reported that the Gialam Airfield in Annam fell to French forces and that many Annamite de- lenders of the field were taken pris- oner.
 To the south, irregular Viet Na- mese bands were bringing pressure to bear on the coastal town of Hue. They succeeded in cutting the coastal road to Tourane, partially destroyed the Clemenceau Bridge At Hue. and were infiltrating into the town itself.
 Reports from Hue said that French civilians gathered for protection as sniper fire harassed Europeans showing themselves on the streets.
 French Short on Troops
 To the north, there was ominous silence from the beleaguered French Jason attachments at Vinh. The small group accepted Dec. 20 ulti- matum to surrender as a guaran- tee for the protection of 200 French civilians there, weekend reports said The northren towns of Bachninh, Phulanthuong. Namdinh, Haiduong, Hongay and Haiphong were main- tained under French control, dis patches said.
 But there were indications that the French would be hard-preSsed to keep the situation in hand with their reported total of 75,000 troops in Indo China if the outbreaks be- came more general.
 Official sources said that three nurses were killed and two wound- ed during the reoccupation of the Hanoi Hospital. The nurses were fired upon in Red Cross ambulances from sniper positions on the hospital roof, they said.
 Expect New Uprisings
 While French colonial troops nressed attacks on Viet Nam posi- lions in Hanoi, the rebel native forces of Viet Nam President Ho Chi Minh retaliated with vio- lent attack on Bac Ninh northeast of the capital
 No details of the fighting there were available.
 In Saigon unofficial sources said the French were expecting a Viet Nam uprising tomorrow or on Christmas Day. Authorities ordered the suspension of midnight Masses throughout Cochin-China province and the closing of bars and public houses as precautionary measures.
 Viet Nam forces were reported to have evacuated the town of Hon. sav on the coast east of Hanoi.