davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1962-05-16
Britain Cites Dangers
Of Pothet Loo Advance

There could well be a threat" "
the British spokesman said.
IF the Pathet Lao forces in
Laos were to advance they
clearly would represent a threat
to the peace Of Southeast Asia
as a whole"
He said Britain approved the
American Marine landings in
Thailand because sit makes
clear that any attempts to
push forward Pathet Lac
forces are dangerous"
Settlement Still Goal
"1t in no way detracts from
the emphasis which the Ameri.
cans and ourselves place on the
need to reach a negotiated
settlement along the lines laic
down in Geneva" he added.
This was a reference to the
attempt by the 14-nation con.
ference in Geneva to establish
a reunited, independent anc
neutral Laos guaranteed b!
the big powers.
The spokesman declined tt
give any detailed information
about Lord Homes discussion
with Mr.. Soldatov.
However. he left the impres'
sion that the meeting, arranged
at the request of the Sovie
Ambassador. did not bring an!
! solution nearer.
Evening star., 1962-05-16
9TH Fleet Moves
Cont Be Ignored.
Red Chino SuYs

TOKYO. May Is (AP).-Red
China said today movements
Of the United States 7th Fleet
in connection with the Laos
crisis constitute military in
reference that absolutely can
not be overlooked"
The charge was carried in a
commentary in today's Peiping
Peoples Daily. official news
paper Of he Chinese Commu-
mist Party.
The commentary, reported in
an overseas Peiping radio
broadcast, also claimed that
some 1000 Nationalist Chinese
troops are fighting alongside
Royal Laotian government
forces.
THE expansion Of the mil
itary conflict in Northern Laos
is due entirely to the aggressive
tactics of the government of
Premier-Prince) Boun Gum, I"
the commentary claimed.
The dispatch of United
States 7th Fleet units to
Southeast Asia, it said, "is
aimed at expanding the civil
war in Laos. completely de-
Stroying hopes for a peaceful
settlement"
Evening star., 1962-05-16
Troop Units in ThoiIond
Identified by Pentogon

45th Technical Reconnaissance
Squadron from Japan (both
flying RF-l01 airplanes) are
on their way to Thailand.
Support aircraft-C-130 and
C-124 transports - from the
335th Air Division and KB-5O
tankers from the 421st Aerial
Refueling Squadron, both based
in Japan, are on their way.
The Navy force off Thailand
includes the amphibious as
sault aircraft carrier Valley
Forge, the assault transport
Navarro, the landing ship, dock
Point Defiance, and the de-
stroyer escorts Brannon and
Vammen.
The Navy task group COM
mander is Capt. Henry S. jack
son, Of Melrose, Mass, COM
manding officer of the Valley
Forge.
The Pentagon would not de-
scribe the exact makeup of the
battle group sent to the Mekong
River between Laos and Thai
land but did say that it was q
typical" reinforced battle
group. A typical battle group
has 1856 men.
Evening star., 1962-05-16

The identity of the American
land, sea and air forces NOV
ing into Thailand was made
public by the Defense Depart
ment today.
The Army force now in Thai
land Is the 1St Battle Group,
9th Infantry, of the 25th In
fantry Division, based in Ha-
waii. 1t is commanded by Col
William A. Mexican of Jack
sonville, Fla.
ReinforcementS - which will
bring this unit up to full hat
tie group strength of about
2,100 men-will come from the
parent division in Hawaii.
In addition, about $50 mer
from the 9th Logistical Com
mand in Okinawa have beer
ordered to Thailand as support
for the battle group. ,s
The Marine battalion landing
team, being landed in Thar
land is the Sd Battalion Of
the 9th Marine Regiment. 6
unit of the Sd Marine Division
1t is commanded by 1t. Col
Harold w. Adams, of Lincoln
Nebr.
With the landing team i!
Marine Helicopter Squadron
261, commandede by 1t. Col
Fred A. Steele, Jacksonville
N. c.
A squadron of A-4D Skyhawl
Jet aircraft has been sent tc
Thailand from the Philippines
1t is the Marine Attack Squad.
ron, 1872, commanded by 1t
Col. Harvey M. Patton, Sail
Lake City. 1t is a part of the
1st Marine Air Wing.
The Air Force is sending
the 510th Technical Fighter
Squadron from Clark Air Force
Base. in the Philippines. II
has F-100 aircraft.
Elements of the Air Force
18th Technical Reconnaissance
Squadron from Okinawa anc
Evening star., 1962-05-16

LONDON, May 16 (AP).-
Britain warned today that any
new advance by pro-Commu-
mist Pathet Lao forces in Laos
would be dangerous to the peace
of Southeast Asia.
The statement by the Foreign
Office came after Foreign Sec
retary Lord Home discussed the
explosive situation in Laos with
Soviet Ambassador Alexander
Soldatov. =
A spokesman, reading from a
prepared statement, voiced ap-
proval for the United States
action in sending Marines to
neighboring Thailand as an
assurance against new Red
adventures.
Breach Called Threat
He told newsmen that the
British government viewed the
recent breach of the Laotian
ceast fire by Pathet Lao forces
as a threat to the peace OF
Southeast Asia.
He then was asked If the
British shared the view OF
President Kennedy, who has
said publicly that American
forces are moving into Thai
land because that country is
under the threat Of Communist
thruSts.
Evening star., 1962-05-16
POLICY

Continued From Page Al
worked out with the Thai gov
ernment.
Presumably, on the theory
that Communist leaders under
stand the exercise of power
Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Do
brynin called at the State De-
partment yesterday afternoon
and told Secretary Rusk that
the Soviet government agreed
with the United States on the
need for a cease-fire in Laos.
Russia's Response PIeases
Administration officials said
privately that they were pleased
by Russia's response, finally,
to Western demands for a
cease-fire. But they will wait
to see what happens now in
Laos.
How long the American forces
Evening star., 1962-05-16
THAILAND
Lotions Still Flee
Across Border

men in Taipei he had no de-
sire to stay on as premier pro-
vided the happiness OF the Lao
tian people was assured. Gen
NoSavan. the real power of the
Vientiane regime, said his right
wing group would cooperate
with anyone not working with
the Communists.
Peiping radio quoted a Pathet
Lao leader as saying his group
was ready to resume talks for
a coalition, provided the United
States withdraws its military
advisers from Laos.
The Pathet Lao delegation to
the dormant Laos peace con-
ference in Geneva issued a
statement charging that dis
patch of United States troops
to Thailand foreshadows direct
United States military inter-
vention in Laos.
1t accused the United States
of trying to convert Laos into
a military base and "a new kind
of American colony"
Council TO Meet
Secretary General Pote Sara
sin of the Southeast Asia Treaty
Organization said in Manila
that the SEATO Council of
P erm anent Representatives
would meet in Bangkok to-
morrow to discuss Laos end
might consider recommending
an emergency meeting of the
foreign ministers of the eight
'SEATO nations. Since the
United States had taken the
ball away from SEATO, how
ever. such a meeting appeared
unlikely.
Mr.. Sarasin declared it was
''up to the Soviet Union to
bring abut a cease fire in Laos. 4"
THE Soviet Union has been
supplying arms continuously to
the Pathet Lao during the nego-
tiations," he said. THE at
tack comes from the Pathet
Lao, and it is up to the Soviet
Union to persuade the Pathet
Lao to go back to the place
where they started"
Evening star., 1962-05-16

will remain in the Southeast
Asian area Is an open question
high officials said today. Their
withdrawal Is expected to de-
pend on the progress of political
negotiations.
1t may take some weeks yet,
even if all goes well, to set up
a new government in Laos
under the leadership of Neutral
ist Prince Souvanna Phouma.
Then. the stability of the
government will inevitably be
uncertain for many more weeks
or months.
The danger to Thaiiand arose
when Communist forces in Laos.
beginning two weeks ago, ad-
vanced on Royal Laotian
government troops in North
western Laos and the govern
ment forces collapsed.
Thousands Of government
troops fled into neighboring
Thailand. And by last week
end there was some fear that
the That's might find their
Mekong River border being
crossed by units of Red forces.
Thus, one immediate OBJ
jective Of Mr.. Kennedy's action
was to strengthen Thailand's
defenses. But more important,
in the view of administration
officials, was the need to make
a show of force to prevent Com
muniStS from thinking that
they could move without him
drance wherever they wished.
A third immediate objective
was to get United States troops
into position for direct inter-
vention in Laos should the Red
advance there continue and
threaten the overthrow of the
royal government.
Evening star., 1962-05-16
HEADLINE PERSONALITY
Richardson Known
As Guerrilla Expert

HONOLULU. May Is (AP) i.
1t. Gen. James L. Richardson.
jr.. the new United States field
commander in Thailand, has a
reputation as quiet, scholarly
soldier and a gentleman"
He also is regarded as an
expert on jungle guerrilla war
fare. Gen. Richardson learned
his guerrilla lessons II years
ago in another part of South
east Asia-the Philippines.
The 52-year-old Nebraskan
moves to his new job from what
is becoming the Army's maid
in-waiting assignment. How
ever, he will continue to wear
his old hat, that Of deputy
chief Of United States Army
forces in the Pacific. The Army
gave no reason for his holding
on to the command except, per-
haps, there has not been time
to name a successor.
Again Under Harkins
He got the word from the
Pentagon only Is hours before
he left" one Of his staff Of
ficers explained. HE packed
his bag. kissed his wife, held a
couple Of quick conferences and
took off"
Gen. Richardson will lead a
Joint task force consisting of
air, sea and ground units in
Thailand. He'll work directly
under an old boss and long
time comrade- -in-arms. Gen.
Paul D. Harkins. 1t was Gen.
Richardson who replaced Gen.
Harkins when the latter was
tapped for the United States
Military Assistance Command
job last February.
Gems. Richardson and Har-
kinS have had parallel careers
the last two years. Both ar
rived in Hawaii the same
month. August, 1860, with Gen.
Harkins taking the deputy
Army post and Gen. Richard
son the dual command of the
25th Division and United States
Army, Hawaii.
When Gen. Harkins was pro-
NOTED to chief of the Military
Evening star., 1962-05-16
New House Building
Dedication May 24

The newest House Office
Building will be dedicated in
honor Of the late Speaker Ray
burn by President Kennedy on
May "a, the House was told to-
day.
Democratic Leader Albert an
nounced that the 1890 am
ceremony for laying of the cor
nerstone at the northeast cor
ner Of the structure will include
speeches by Mr.. Kennedy and
Speaker Mccormack.
Evening star., 1962-05-16
Laos Outlook
Called Bleak

VIENTIANE, Laos, May II
(kP Authoritative American
military sources said today thu
situation in Northwest Laos L
bleak. even though the pro,
Communist Pathet Lao and it
Communist allies from Nortl
Wet Nam have eased theil
pressure.
The government Of Premier
Prince Boun Gum and Gen
Phoumi Nosavan apparently
has decided to leave North
west Laos virtually undefendec
for the foreSeeable future.
The Communists thus have
achieved their objective Of
gaining opportunities to IN;
filtrate deep into Thailand
through rugged country ideal
for such operations. these
sources said.
"All they wanted was a back
woodsy area where they could
infiltrate with out too much
trouble" one American source
said.
He added that he did not
think the Communists ever in
tended a direct attack on the
Thatland Border.
American military sources
gave three main reasons for
the Communist push southwark
in which they took Muong Sing
and Nam Tha in the North and
threatened Houei Sal on Thai
lands border:
To crack the morale Of gov
eminent troops in one light
ming blow. nic-stricken
evacuation Of Houei Sal last
Friday by supposedly crack
units of the Lao army illus
trated their success.
To capture ammunition and
materials from well-supplied
government troops. Appar-
emily government troops man
aged to destroy their six, ar
tillery pieces in Nam Tha, but
on the 90-mile trek south they
abandoned plenty of other
equipment and ammunition.
To weaken the Lao govern
ment's bargaining position in
new negotiations over the po-
litical future of Laos.
The main body Of the Com
munist forces which pushed to
the outskirts of Houei Sal ap-
parently has moved back T.
Wen Phou Kha, 40 miles south
Of Nam Tha and about SO
miles north of Houei Sal
|. American sources said. United
States military advisers car.
ried out reconnaissance from
a single-engine light plane to.
day.
Evening star., 1962-05-16
Smith to Retire
AS Deputy Chief
Of Air Force

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff
Frederic H. Smith will retire
soon for reasons of health and
will be replaced July / by Gen
William F. Mckee, the Ali
Force announced today.
Air Force Secretary Eugene
Zukert said, "Gen. Smiths re.
tirement will be a severe loss
to the United States Air Force
and to the country"
Gen. Mckee is now COM
mander Of the Air Force Logis-
tics Command at Wright Field
Ohio. He is a native of Chill
howie. Vs., and was deputy
assistant chief of staff fol
operations during World War II
Evening star., 1962-05-16
Nom Confidence Move
Defeated in Israel

JERUSALEM. Israeli Sector,
May 16 (AP).-A joint motion
by four parties expressing non
confidence in the Israel gov
ernment was defeated in Parlia-
ment yesterday.
The motion, rejected 54-47.
was sponsored by the right
wing Herut Party. the Liberals,
the leftwing Mapam party and
the Communists. All four
parties expressed strong criti-
cism Of the governments new
economic policy, in force since
the devaluation of the Israeli
pound on February 9.
Evening star., 1962-05-16
lndiu Sends Awoy
Lost Foreign Troops

BOMBAY. India. May Is
(AP).-The last foreign soldier
left India yesterday-450 years
after the first colonial con-
quest of this huge subcontinent.
The departing troops were
the last of 1000 captured Por-
tuguese from the enclaves of
Goa, Daman and Diu, occupied
by India last December. They
flew to Karachi, PakiStan,
whence they will travel by sea
to Lisbon. The number in
volveed was not given.
Evening star., 1962-05-16

Assistance Force in South Wet
Nam, it seemed only logical
his successor would be Richard
son. Only three months later
when Gen. Harkins, RESPONSE
bility was expanded as part oi
the shift Of emphasis to protest
Thailand, the first high-rank-
ing officer called was Gen
Richardson.
Old Troops With Him
While heading the 25th Di.
vision, Gen. Richardson de-
veloped the units guerrilla
warfare ability in the hills OF
Hawaii. War games ragged
across the jagged peaks OF
Oahu and the island Of Hawaii
A guerrilla training compound
was set up behind Schofield
Barracks, headquarters of the
25th.
Some 1000 of these 25th Di-
vision troops will be with Gen.
Richardson in Thailand. They
know what their old leader de-
mands and he knows what they
can produce.
He made this division &c
and it will go for him." one
veteran sergeant Of the 25th
said.
Fellow staff officers describe
the tall GID, lean Gen
Richardson as a stickler fol
details. THE old man." one
aide said, believes that detail.
are the things that make tht
military go-and he insists
upon them. He requires thai
every subordinate commander
not only knows his job, but
the job of everyone else"
Evening star., 1962-05-16
HungNReds
See Laos as
Path 10 Rice
By the Associated Press

I
Laos, the cold wars current
flash point, offers a conqueror
few riches. But to food short
Communists Of China and
North Wet Nam, the Kansas
sized jungle kingdom is a bridge
to the fertile rice fields OF
Southeast Asia.
dramatically labeled Land
Of the Million Elephants and
the White Parasol," Laos is
slightly more than 90, 1000 square
miles Of landlocked jungle and
mountains from which its 2
million to 8 million inhabitants
draw q meager existence.
But for the Chinese and
North Vietnamese Communists,
control Of Laos could open the
road to the rice Of Burma,
Thailand. Cambodia, and South
Wet Nam which share Laos
borders.
Red Objectives Feared
Pro-Communist Pathet Lao
rebels already control Laos
Eastern border with South Wet
Nam, and North Vietnamese
Communists have been pouring
across it to wage war on the
pro-Western Saigon govern
ment. The United States fears
the Reds have similar plans
along the eastern border.
But for a few Western inno-
vations, not all welcomed, Laos
is unchanged from centuries
ago. There are no railroads
and only $500 miles of roads.
Most travel is by plane. which
few Laotians can afford, or by
the Mekong River, which
meanders along the western
edge of the kingdom.
Industry is negligible. Educa-
tional facilities. other than
Buddhist schools, are in pa
thetically short supply. What
wealth is accumulated is usual
ly lavished on religious festi-
walls. While the United States
was pumping $25 million in
economic aid into Laos in 1850,
the government spent $500, 900
on cremation ceremonies for
King Sisavang Wong, who had
died l8 months before.
Most Laotians are farmers,
usually rice growers, who seek
from their toll only enough to
subsist on with a little extra
for bartering. They are gentle
and courteous and lead a slow
paced life that on the average
does not exceed 40 years. More
than 80 per cent are illiterate.
They practice a form Of Bud
dhism widely mixed with spirit
worship.
Independent Since 1s4s
For centuries. the Laotians
have been the pawns Of bigger
powers. Francs got the area,
3 group Of feudal Kingdoms,
from Thailand late in the last
century. Japan occupied 1t
during World War II. The
French returned but by 194s
recognized Laos as an indepen-
dent sovereign state.
The pro- Communist Pathet
Lao faction rejected the Vien-
tiane government, however,
contending 1t was still a vas
sal Of France. Pathet Lao
guerrillas were scoring success |
seS In NorCheaSCern Laos be-
fore fighting subsidized with the |
1854 Geneva agreement parti-
tioning French Indo China.
The French withdrew, and
Communist China recognized |
Laos as an independent state.
Political rivalries among
rightists, neutralists and pro-
c Communists kept the country |
in turmoil. Encouraged by |
China and North Wet Nam, the |
Pathet Lao renewed their bid |
to take the country by force.
The rebels broke a year-old |
cease-fire last week. and now
occupy two-thirds Of the coun-
try.
Evening star., 1962-05-16

FULL NAME-lt. Gen. Jones [.
Richardson, jr.
CLAIM TO FAME-Nomed field
commander Of United Stotes
forces in ThoiIond.
AGE-52.
JoBS-cOmmonder, United Stotes
Army Howoii, and 18th Divi-
sion; Deputy Chief Of United
Stotes Army forces in the Po-
cific.
Evening star., 1962-05-16
Thai Rangers q Help

The United States forces vii
be aided by three Thai Ranger
battaliops Of about 900 mer
each, the elite Of the Thai army
Of about 100000 men. Ameri.
can officials do not rate the
bulk of the Thai army very
highly. 81
President Kennedy ordered the
United States feroes int THAT
land after Marshal Sarit made
a formal Request IN accordance
with q March 8 agreement in
which the United States pledged
to help Marshal Earit,s govern
ment resist Communist Aggres-
sion and subversion.
THE dispatch Of United
States forces to Thailand," said
Mr.. Kennedy, "was considered
desirable because Of recent at
tacks in Laos by Communist
forces, and the subsequent
movement Of Communist mill
tary units toward the border
of Thailand."
Mr.. Kennedy said the United
States units would remain in
Thailand until further orders
to help insure the territorial
integrity Of this peaceful coun-
try" He added:
There is no change in our
policy toward Laos, which con-
tinues to be the re-establish-
ment of an effective cease-fire
and prompt negotiations for a
government of national union. /"
Despite the air of urgency in
the military moves, the chief
Laotian figures in the political
negotiations showed no inclina-
tion to rush to the conference
table.
Prince Souphanouvong, since
the recent Pathet Lao victories
the strongest man in the little
kingdom, was somewhere in
Northern Laos and had not is
sued a public statement in days.
His half-brother and neu-
tralist ally, Prince Souvanna
Phouma. was winding UP a
vacation in France and an
nounced he would return to
Laos Saturday.
IT believe a peaceful solu-
tion is still possible" he said,
although there may be unfore-
seen difficulties"
The leaders of the pro-West-
tern Vientiane government,
Premier Prince Boun Gum and
Gen. Phoumi Nosavan, contin-
ued a visit to Formosa and
spent the day watching a Chi
nese Nationalist Army exercise
Prince Boun Oum was ex-
pected to return to Vientiane
tomorrow.
Prince Boun Oum told news
Evening star., 1962-05-16
THAILAND
Continued From Page Al

COAeAAuC0 EhOAA 06C NJ
ment, following a meeting of
Secretary Of State Dean Rusk
and Soviet Ambassador Anatoly
Dobrynin, did not specify
whether Laotian pro-Red forces
would return to the old cease
fire line in effect before the
recent Communist sweep.
Pathet Lao Pulls Back
Even before announcement
Of the United States landings
requested by Thai Premier Sarit
Thanarat, there were signs the
Pathet Lao in Northwest Laos
was beginning to pull back
from Thailand's border.
The Royal Laotian govern
ment said in a communique
from Vientiane that six pro-
Red battalions had withdrawn
from the border area around
Houei Sal toward the Red Chi
nese frontier.
Demoralized Royal Laotian
troops continued fleeing across
the Thai border at Houei Sal
even though no Communist
forces have been seen in the
area for five days.
There were hints that other
members Of the 8-nation South
east Treaty Organization may
bolster the American forces.
After a meeting of the SEATO
council here, an announcement
said Continuing consultations
are in progress among SEATO
nations for the purpose of con-
sidering further possible moves
by other member countries"
Besides the United States and
Thailand, other SEATO mem
bers are Britain, France, Aus
tralia, New Zealand, Palsistan
and the Philippines.
Army 1t. Gen. James L.
Richardson, jr., left Hawaii for
Bangkok to become commander
OF United States combat ele-
ments" in Southeast Asia.
Gen. Richardson, 52-year-old
expert on jungle guerrilla war
fare, will work under Gen. Paul
D. Harkins, his predecessor as
deputy chief of United States
Army forces in the Pacific and
now the chief of the United
States Military Assistance
Force in Wet Nam. g.
Washington sources indi-
Gated Gen. Richardson has au-
thority to call for more United
States ground troops if he needs
them. But United States Of
ficials believed those already
committed would be sufficient
unless the Communist Chinese
send troops into Northern Laos.
The Marines and the Army
battle group viii be stationed
in two sensitive areas in North
east Thailand. From there
their rowing patrols can keep
watch on sectors of the Mekong
River border that the ,Commu-
nists from Laos might try to
cross.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-23

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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-07-08

BssvsRLL bu lsAh0sdsd-c hodie Rice interviews
HoiEwoods Kim Novok See PUnchbowi .. PGOs
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-12-28
Happy Friday

Happy Friday
Butch seemed to be a prob
lem in his new school. One day
the principal showed his annoy
ance.
Butch, this is the fifth day
this week I've had to punish
you. What do you have to say
for yourself?"
well" said Butch, I'm glad
it's Friday"