Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-29
Tshombe FIees
As His Palace
Is Captured
Attackers Control
Of ElisubethviIIe
Nearly Complete

forces supported by aerial bonn
bardment seized almost COM
plete control of this secessionist
capital today and apparently
started a hopping up opera
ton. President Noise Tshombe
fled his palace and his where
abouts were unknown.
A U. N. spokesman said
Katangan resistance was crack
ing and that Mr.. Tshombe's
heavily armed police were flee
ing into the bush, leaving be-
hind weapons, equipment and
a number of armored cars.
United Nations forces took
the offensive after enduring
two days of Katangan police
attacks on positions in Elisa
bethville.
United Nations planes
bombed strategic points in both
Elisabethville and the mining
town of Kolwezi about $50 miles
northwest of the capital.
Water Flow Restored
A United Nations spokesman
said the city's water supply, cut
off in the outbreak of HOSTILE
ties Thursday night, had been
restored. He said the United
Nations hoped to have electric
power restored within two days.
United Nations troops took
Mr.. Tshombe's palace with little
resistance from the presidential
guard. Mr.. Tshombe was gone
when the blue helmeted inter-
national troops-mostly Ethio-
plans and Indian Gurkhas-
occupied the palace.
Previously Mr.. Tshombe had
been reported trying to flee to
Kipushi, about IS miles from
Elisabethville, on the northern
, Rhodesian border, or to Kol-
wezi.
A U. N. spokesman said the
Elisabethville post office, rail-
road station and the Katangan
radio station had been taken
over by the U. N. troops.
Warns Of Destruction
But Mr.. Tshombe today
threatened total destruction"
in his province unless United
Nations forces stop fighting
within "a hours.
This report was sent out by
foreign correspondents in Elisa
bethville.
Mr.. Tshombe's signed state
ment declared that If enemy
forces did not stop firing
within "a hours I'VE will i'm
mediately blow up the bridge
over the Lufuria."
This is a large river between
Elisabethville and Jadotville.
Mr.. Tshombe in public
proclamation said "Katangese
people will defend themselves
until the death. and every
where the United Nations and
its troops will be fought as our
worst enemy-with traps, with
poisoned arrows and spears.
We will resist by all means
including the total destruction
of all our economic potential"
Mr.. Tshombe made similar
threats when fighting broke
out with United Nations forces
in Katanga late last year.
The spokesman said the U. N.
was beginning a move against
roadblocks in the vicinity Of
the railway tunnel-scene of
bitter combat in previous
rounds Of fighting in Elisabeth
vile a year ago.
The spokesman said U. N.
troops reported few Katangans
had been taken prisoner and
that Mr.. Tshombe's casualties
were believed light.
United Nations forces lost
one killed and five wounded In
fighting yesterday.
Previous reports said seven
u. N. soldiers and eight civil
ians were wounded.
Move on Copper Belt
Reports reaching foreign en-
bassies In Leopoldville, capital
OF the Congo central govern
ment 1000 miles northwest Of
here. said United Nations troops
were moving UP the Jadotville
road into the heart Of Ka-
tanga's copper belt. Jadotville
Is about 10 miles northwest OF
Elisabethville.
The Belgian Embassy re-
See KATANGA, Page AS