Evening star., 1960-12-16
Reds Reported Losing
Fight for Laos Capital

sBANGKoK, Trailand, Dec.
1e Gap. - Anti Communist
fsrces' seeking to drive leftist
traop remnants from vientiane
were reported today to have
seized the air field at the
1aotian capital.
Radio reports from American
military observers in Laos said
the rightists, under Gen.
Phoumi NoSavan, also sue
ceeded in encircling the city.
The air field at the western
outskirts, one of two pro-
Communist strongholds, had
been used to land Soviet air.
lifts Of artillery.
THE United States military
observers said reports that the
air field had fallen could not be
confirmed.
They added that Vientiane
was 'much quieter" late today.
Shelling by both rightists and
leftists diminished in the Vien-
tial1e's center, where the United
States Embassy burned yeSter-
day.
The observers reports said
no Americans have been killed
butt o. handful were slightly
wounded.
MOpup Yet to Come
As Gen. Phoumi sought to
expel remaining leftist troops
from Vientiane, his rightist
high command at Savannakhet
said In q broadcast it win take
another two days to clean out
pockets Of diehard Communist
resistance.
The pro-Communist Pathet
Lao, radio claimed, however,
that Capt. Kong Les leftist
forces were holding their posi-
tions against Gen. Phoumi. But
the Pathet Lao broadcast con-
ceded that its latest informa-
tion. was as Of yesterday morn
ing.
More than 500 foreigners, in
cluding 1855 Americans, arrived
in Bangkok after q dramatic
flight from the embattled Lao
tian capital across the north
ern Thai border. The refugees
ram D gauntlet Of shellbursts
and sniper fire to cross the
Mekong River into Thailand.
The. group included several
American women.
American informants claimed
Russians or Communist North
Wet NameSe were serving
Soviet-supplied guns for the
leftist forces. laying precision
IRE across the center Of the
city
II have helped train Laotian
artNlerymen and have never
seen them shoot like this be-
fore" one American said.
U. S. Pledges support
The United States State De-
partment yesterday pledged
full'support to the new La0tian
government of Prince Boun
Ouni and Gen. Phoumi and
promised assistance If neces-
sary for Laos to maintain It's
freedom.
Raiio signals from United
States Embassy personnel in
Vientiane said large areas in
the center of the city were
leve3ed by the shelling.
The radio contact was weak
eniIig, however. United States
Ambassador Winthrop G.
BroWn was believed to be send
ing the messages BY portable
radiO.
Fears for the safety Of sew
eral- Americans statiored at q
housing settlement az miles
eastsof Vientiaie were expressed
here. No word from them has
been received since Tuesday.
Phoumi cOnsOIidates. Hold
Fragmentary radio reports
from British and American Dip
lomats Indicated Gen. Phoumi
had consolidated his hold on
the southern section Of the
battered and burning city.
Gen. Phoumi'S troops were
reported driving on the north
western sector where prot Com
munist Pathet Lao guerrillas
and paratroopers under the
command Of Capt. Kong lie
kept, q foothold. Pockets of
resistance slowed nopping up
action.
Dispatches from Savanna
khet, the rightist headquarters,
said Gen. Phoumi SUI veyed the
city by helicopter and reported
that troopladen trucks were
leaving the airport, . few miles
outside the city. q possible in
dication that the leftists were
retreating to the jungle.
Araericails Crawl Out
Gen. Phoumi claimed his 1st
paratroop battalion had speared
close to the airport, where the
main body Of about 1000 left
lists Is concentrated.
Gen. Phoumi's army is esti-
mated at about 1000, but all
p--uls--a---u--~us-u--~