Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-23
INDIA
Both Sides Use Cease-Fire Period
To Reinforce Battle Positions
Continued From Page Al

The Defense Ministry Spokes-
man reporting Indian patrols
said he had no report on
whether the Chinese, as well,
were carrying out patrols Of
their own.
Feelings here were growing
stronger against the Chinese
terms for peace.
The Defense Ministry spokes-
man said Indian forces were
patrolling on the northwest
front around Ladakh but on
q. scale smaller than in the
northeast.
Heavy Casualties Reported
The spokesman declined to
comment on a division Of the
Indian Army that was cut off
behind swift Chinese attacks
last week end.
He reported, however, that
in the Chushul airfield area in
ladakh the Chinese had at
tackled last Sunday and Mon
day with about two battalions
ESTIMATED to number about
1000 men.
Nearly half the strength Of
the Chinese force was either
killed or wounded" the spokes-
man said. Later, he said, the
Chinese launched other at
tacks and captured four Indian
posts before the cease fire.
sTacitly accepting the cease
fire, Indian troops were re-
ported under secret orders to
hold their fire unless fired
upon. But Prime Minister Nehru
RETAINED from taking "a stand
on Peking's proposals for end
ing the conflict.
No Outbreak Of Firing
He told parliament today
there still had been no outbreak
Of fighting since the Chinese
stopped shooting.
THE Chinese cease fire has
continued on their side and so
far as I know there has been
no firing on either SIDE" Mr..
Nehru said.
Red China said she would !
begin pulling her troops back a
on December /. =
But what would happen then L
was far from clear. Peking's "
proposal was widely regarded :"
as an ultimatum which would
force India to yield the high C
Ladakh plateau on the western ]
end of her frontier in return T
for regaining most Of the lost v
border areas in the northeast. !
Adopting a wait-and-see at :
ttude, the Indian government
vent ahead in the )ull with {
emergency measures to put its
forces into a better military
position after suffering smash
ing blows.
Reds Oppose Sailing
There were sounds coming
from Picking, however, that in
dicated the Red Chinese may
accept no stalling on their 9
terms.
A spokesman of the Red Chi t
nese Defense Ministry was 4
quoted in a Peking broadcast
as saying he expected 1.-The In 9
dian government, after full ?
consideration, will make a posi- {
tive response" to the peace q
overtures.
Mr.. Nehru still talked Of a
long hard war. In his first
public speech since the cease
fire, he took no notice Of Pc
kings declarations.
BE prepared for a long,
drawn-out war with China ano
be determined to face any
crisis to drive out the Chinese
from Indian soil, he said at a
rally of young Red Cross work.
ers.
; He called on Incians for a
Sense of sacrifice" to make
the country great and to de-
'fend hard-won freedom.
Word here that the Chinese
Tuay be consolidating their
positions awaiting the outcome
of the cease fire may have been
based on aerial reconnaissance.
So far there has been no 7.
aerial fighting, bombing or
strafing by either side.
But a Red Chinese broadcast
charged two Indian planes
made provocative" intrusions
over Chinese positions along
the border IN the Lake Spang-
qua sector of Ladakh.
In line with the cease-fire,
Peking said, Chinese troops did
not open fire on the planes.
1.-The Chinese said the cease
fire would be followed by with
dfawal to approximately the
line that India says is the Dor
der line in the northwest.
High officials here. as well as
loudly outspoken members of
parliament, were determined
not to accept this as a per-
manent arrangement because it
would leave to China 10000
square miles of Ladakh in the
northwest.
Since the border dispute be-
came public in 1859, India has
repeatedly refused to accept a
deal that meant the loss of
eastern Ladakh.
Therefore. observers here said
India may take what benefits it
can from the Chinese plan but I
eventually will have to fight
again.
High-ranking American and 4
British missions began talks in
New Delhi today on what India
needs to continue the fight
against the Chinese.
William H. Brown Ill