Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-01-12
I shombe Rhodesia
After Night Dash
But Pledges
He'll Return
To Kutungo

Ooll' IL VAR -EICSIuCllJ N1OlSC
TShombe OF Katanga secretly
slipped out Of his secessionist
capital and showed up in this
Northern Rhodesian border
town today.
Confusion surrounded the
night dash by back roads of
the mercurial leader, who has
been pledging cooperation in
Congo unity efforts in one
breath and a fight to the death
in the next.
He refused to discuss politics
at a news conference.
Before leaving the Katangan
capital Of Elisabethville he sent
a message to Katangans de.
claring Il still believe in the
peaceful experimentation" of
U. N. Secretary General U
Thant's plan for Congo unfit
cation.
Diplomats Skeptical
But diplomats speculated he
plans a signal for a last-ditch
stand against U. N. forces.
Mr.. Tshombe told newsmen,
after comforting with some of
his ministers here, that he in
tended to return to Elisabeth
vile tonight and then go on to
Kolwezi on Monday. Kolwezi
is the key mining and electric
power town $50 miles northwest
of Elisabethville where the
remnants of Mr.. Tshombe's
white officers and gendarmerie
are holed up.
United Nations forces were
reported advancing on Kolwezi.
Diplomats and U. N. officials
in Elisabethville doubted that
Mr.. Tshombe would return to
that capital. They said they
expected him to go directly to
Kolwezi, where his men have
mined vital industrial and cleo
trio power installations and
threatened to blow them up if
U. N. forces advance.
U. N. Officials Touchy
Some U. N. officials in Elisa
bethville were touchy about
President Tshombe's dash to
Ndola. George Sherry, acting
U. N. chief in Katanga,
slammed his door in the faces
OF reporters seeking informa-
ton.
Another U. N. official as
serted: I'VE are not interested
in the whereabouts of
Tshombe."
He said the U. N. was in
terested only in contracting
units of Mr.. Tshombe's gen.
darmes and persuading them
to swear allegiance to the Leo
poldville government.
The y. N. announced the
peaceful occupation of Sa-
kama, rail town on the North
ern Rhodesian border, an oper-
alton which unplugs a vital
supply route.
U. N. Troops Advance
U. N. troops advancing to-
ward Kolwezi from Jadotville
were last reported about -
miles from the town.
The British and Belgian con-
suls in Elisabethville who saw
President Tshombe. minutes ba-
fore he slipped out in a police
jeep, described him as "a
frightened and detected man
He appeared to be on his last
leg in his long struggle TO keep
his wealthy province indepen-
dent of the Congo.
Mr. Tshombe travelled by
bush roads to reach Ndola, Just
across the Rhodesian border.
The two consuls said they
.ried vainly TO persuade Mr..
Tshombe not to go, but said
ne was alarmed by the sudden
arrival in Elisabethville of so
officers of the Congolese ma
.ional army and a Leopoldville
ielegation headed by Congolese
Premiere Cyrille Adoulas per-
'onal adviser.
Possible Treason Charge
Western diplomats said that
Mr. Tshombe had refused to
ign a document agreeing TO
] N. freedom Of movement in
<atanga and recognizing Presi-
lent Joseph KaSavubu as head
Il a refrigerated Congo. Some
ources said he now faces the
hreat OF arrest and transfer
o Leopoldville. where charges
4 treason could be laid against
Tim.
Diplomatic informants re-
'orted yesterday that Mr..
'Shombe had offered to yield
o the United Nations II allowed
o remain as a provincial presi-
lent Of a reunited Congo. He
'anted the U. N. TO relay his
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