Evening star., 1963-04-08
Laos Pro-Reds Gain
Town in New Attack
StrotegicCity
Is Evacuated
By Neutruls

V1ENTIANE, Laos, April
(AP) .-Neutralist commander
Gen. Kong lie reported today
his army is under heavy attack
by pro- Communist forces in the
Plaine des Jarres after being
driven out of the strategic town
Of Xieng Khouang. Red domi-
nation of Northen Laos ap-
peared to be a distinct posi-
bility.
Premier Prince Souvanna
Phouma told reporters the
garrison at Xieng
Khouang, % miles southeast Of
the Plaine, had been forced to
evacuate the town. ITO miles
northeast of here. Informed
sources SAID the garrison re-
treated to the Plaine les Jarres,
presumably to rejoin the bulk
of Gen. Kong Les forces. There
was no information on casual
ties.
The town, a provinC,al capi-
tai, had been jointly held by
neutralists and their one-time
allies, the pro Communist
Pathet Lao.
North Vietnamese troops
were reported engaged ir the
fighting against Gen. Kong Les
troops.
Diplomatic circles in Wen
tiane considered the loss Of
Xieng Khouang a most serious
breach of the cease-fire pro-
claimed last June.
They also viewed 1t as the
most important change in the
status quo since the north
western provincial capital Of
Nam Tha fell to the Commu-
nists in May 1862, before the
present coalition government
was formed.
The Premier appeale- earlier
for Intervention by the three
nation International Control
Commission.
Appeal Doomed
Prince Souvanna Phouma
asked the control commission
to station a truce tea.n in the
Plaine des Jarres. bdt his APP
peal was doomed by his half
brother, Prince Souphanavong,
the Pathet Lao leader. who op-
posed it. Such request must
be backed by all three factions
in the government neutralists,
pro- Communists and rightists.
Prince Souvanna Phouma
emphasized he made his appeal
as leader of the neutralist fac
ton and not as Premier. He
saiG the situation on the PLANE
der Jarres is deteriorating.
Avtar Singh Of India, chair
man Of the international Con-
troll Commission, described the
situation as grave"
The Pathet Lao already con-
trolls about two-thirds of the
kingdom. II 1t takes over the
Plaine des Jarres. 1t virtually
will eliminate the neutralists as
a significant factor.
Claims Discounted
Gen. Kong lie, neutralist
military leader. has charged
that the Reds are trying 20
destroy him. He claims to have
5000 men. but foreign intelli-
gence officials estimate that
In a showdown he could count
on about 400 dedicated follow
ers. The Pathet Lao has more
than $4,000 troops In Northern
Laos.
The 1862 Geneva Agreement
neutralizing Laos provides that
the cease-fire which ended the
civil war viii be supervised by
the international Control Com
mission made up Of India,
Canada and Poland. But the
commission can act only with
the concurrence OF the royal
government" which gives each
OF the three coalition members
a veto.
Prince Souvanna Phouma
said be asked for a truce team
TO be stationed on the Piaine
permanently and until rur-
ther notice"
Prince Souphanavong said
the situation had been caused
by American imperialists In.
terferring In Laos internal af-
fairs"
He said he opposed sending a
truce team because 1T Is the
duty OF Laotians to reach q
settlement Of the PLANE affair
among themselves.