Evening star., 1951-06-30
T holland
Continued From First Page.)

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were ignored, tanks, artillery and
planes opened up on the rebels
The fight ragged throughout the
night into the morning. A pail
of smoke hung over Bangkok from
a burning oil pump set afire by an
aerial bomb.
U. S. Embassy Hit Four Times.
Mr.. Turner said both sides must
have suffered heavy casualties.
He was in the middle of the
ground fighting. The highway
outside Mr.. Turner'S home was
the corridor of fire. The navy
fought from Lumphini Park on
one side. The army was on the
other firing from positions in the
Royal Bangkok Sports Club.
The United States Embassy was
hit four times during the night.
The navy announced it had set
up new government headed by
la retired army officer, Phra Sa-
rasas Praphan.
Navy broadcasts said the rebel
government included several for
mer high ranking naval officers.
But some of those listed, including
Semi Pramoj, former Thai Ambas-
sador to the United States, dis
claimed knowledge of the appoint
ments.
Meanwhile. the army announced
that Foreign Minister Vorakarn
Bancha was taking over the old
government.
The reshuffled old government
was loyal to Pibulsonggram, a
staunch friend of the United
States.
Kidnapped During Ceremony.
The premier was kidnapped dur
ing a ceremony marking the
transfer Of an American dredger
to the Thai government. He was
standing beside Mr.. Turner when
heavily armed navy detach-
men moved in and surrounded
him.
Armed sailors and Marines
covered the official party until
Pibulsonggram was whisked away
in launch. He did not protest.
Later Mr.. Turner and other off,
cials were permitted to leave.
There was nothing to indicate
the coup was Communist inspired.
1t might stem from old rivalry
between the army and navy. There
had been rumors of a possible
Communist coup.
(First news Of the kidnapping
was announced in Washington
by the State Department. A
few hours later Pan American
Airways in Manila said one of
its Bangkok bound planes had
been ordered away from the air.
field because of unsettled polit-
ical conditions.)
No Chance for Defense.
The kidnapping took place sol
rapidly that handful of Army
officers and police at the scene
had no chance to defend him.
Pibulsonggram had just COM
pleted his acceptance speech of
the American dredger Manhattan
when the navy men came aboard.
The dredger was to be used toI
dig a channel through the mouth
OF the Chao Phya River to Bang
kok port, 80 miles upstream.
The Thai navy radio moni-
tored in Singapore said the
premier had been arrested" The
navy insisted the action was
taken by Officers of all three
services" who were dissatisfied
with the Pibulsonggram regime.
The radio listed Gen. LuangI
Kach as one of the dissidents.I
He was a longtime friend of the
Premier but was exiled to Hong
Kong a year and a half agoswhenI
the Premier smashed a plot
against his regime
There was no indication in dis
patches that former Premier
Pridi Phanaoyong, exiled rival of
Pibulsonggram. was back of the
coup. Pridi was last reported in
Communist China.
The Thai Navy supports him
and attempted a similar coup in
1949. In that battle the navy and
marines lost In several days of
street fighting with the other
armed services.
Pridi beaded the anti-Japanese