Evening star., 1960-12-08
LAOS
LAOS -
" Troops Guard Capital
Adoinst New Threats

Against n
Continued From First Page
operations. He envisioned full
control of the capital by the
end Of the day.
The government threatened
"the most rigorous military
measures" against any ele-
ments seeking to obstruct its
activities or influence its neu-
tralist policies.
Bristling With Guns
This capital bristled with
guns, tanks and truckloads Of
soldiers in full battle gear for
a few tense hours, but by noon
the city had returned to nor
NAL.
The action, which neutralist
Premier Prince Souvanna
Phouma wholeheartedly sup
ported, followed reports that
Pathet Laos forces ringing the
capital were poised for attack.
Gen. Phoumi, who staged
q breakthrough on the Nam
kadinh River front 100 miles
east Of Vientiane yesterday.
was reported advancing on the
capital. too. He had regrouped
his forces, recrossed the river,
recaptured Pakadinh on the
mouth Of the Namkadinh and
was marching on Paksane,
about 90 miles east Of Vien-
tiane.
Kong lie Out
Prince Souvanna announced
that Kong lie. the paratroop
captain who brought the neu-
tralist Premier to power in a
coup last August. no longer
commands the Vientiane gar
rison. Asked why. the Premier
said I'VE prefer to have some
body who commands in fact
and in full support of the
government"
Kong lie has leaned toward
the Communicated Pathet Lao
in the civil war. The Premier
placed him under 15-day house
arrest last October for putting
on an elaborate, unauthorized
welcome for A. N. Ahramov,
first Soviet Ambassador to Laos.
Western military attaches
said Kong lie was on the front
facing the rightist advance
yesterday.
Rumors tanning through the
capital said there was a posi-
bility Of an attack by Pathet
Lao guerrillas said to be ring
ing the city.
other reports, which were
unconf1rmed, said troops of
Gen. Phoumi were ferried up
the Mekong River and landed
on Thai territory opposite
Vientiane during the night.
Earlier reports said Gen
Phoumi's forces achieved q
breakthrough 100 miles east oi
Vientiane and were marching
on Paksane. only IS miles east
Of the capital.
Under Artillery Fire
Two Western military at
taches returning from that
scene said Gen. Phoumi's forces
rained devastating artillery
fire" against retreating govern
ment forces, demoralizing some
units until they were psyche.
logically incapable OF defend
ing themselves.
Laotian forces trained Ii
jungle skirmishing are unused
to artillery fire.
A government communion,
announced that its forces wer,
being regrouped behind tn,
borders Of Vientiane Province
and called on Pathet Lao Il
collect its forces "in a sectoI
to be determined by all parties.
The government declared /
will take "the most rigorou
military measures" to liquidat,
elements obstructing it.
But at the same time /
agreed to a three -corneret
meeting in a neutral place O
Souvanna followers, rightistI
and the Pathet Lao. This an
nouncement was in response t,
q message from Gen. Phoumi
Gen. Phoumi's message ap
parently answered an Invitation
to send a delegation t,
Vientiane to discuss time an,
place for preliminary peac
talks and he apparently insiste,
! on a neutral site.
Ceasefire Sought
The communique said tn
| government would do all in it
power TO make ceasefire ef
fective.
Leaflets distributed by tn
garrison leaders declared o,it