1954-04-05 — Page 1

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Dien Bien Phu

A

S the tough

Kory battle

for the tiny French village fortress of Dien Bien Phu

reaches a climax, it is neces- : Bary to examine the im- of this battle in portance relation to the Indo-China campaign as a whole und to understand the reason for the appalling sacrifices both sides have made, in the of the Vietminh, to conquer the outpost, in the case of the French, to save Blen it at all costs. Dien Phu in, after all, just a tiny village in Upper Tonkin.

value Its intrionic

case

10

1414

i

th

n

French garrison in that area Kives it some importance, but it has been said that in

the relation

military situation

whole hardly deserves the atten- tion of half Vietminh General Giap's seven regular divisions. It was originally selected by tho French

forti High Command sa fied camp after it had been decided last November to quit Lai Chau, capital of

the Thai country which was then considered untenable. Militarily, there were several good reasons for picking

Dien Bien Phu. It lies un the road leading from Lao Kay on the Chinese burder to Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos. In this position an armed fortress can be a Aerious problem to the Communist Invasion of Northern Laos and It has the added ad-

of vantage covering the

north of area

Prabang.

of that fall under the

for

on

Sequel To Raid On Fishing Junk-Back Page

THE WEATHER; Modern fo” Kahf · winds. Cloudy with patches of coastal fog. Butk fair periods overland during the

afternoon.

CHINA MAIL

No. 35783

Established 1845

MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1954.

Price 20 Cents

French Forces Win 1st Round

Of Dien Bien Phu Battle Commandos

REBEL

FORCES

HURLED BACK

Running Short Of

Ammunition

Hanoi, Apr. 4.

The French High Command tonight an- nounced that French Union forces had

won the first round of the battle for Dien Bien Phu and the exhausted Communist armies' pressure on the bastion's key southeastern flank had relaxed.

Eleven times waves of screaming black-clad soldiers of the rebel general Vo Nguyen Giap hurled themselves against the strategic hill in the five-day battle. Eleven times the suicide attacks were knocked out by the grim garrison.

commander,

Late tonight the Dien Bien Phu Colonel Christian de Castries, radioed to Hanoi head- quarters: "Vietminh forces attacking Bald Head Hill relaxed pressure in the course of the afternoon under strong counter-attacks,”

The 11,000-man garrison manning the Indo-China "Verdun" hurled the Reds successfully back after re- ceiving an undisclosed number of reinforcements yester- day.

a now

military

at

to

hours.

Clashes

elsewhere

assault squads

Ave

on

1hr

Train

Scene during the training of the newly formed Lasserre Commandos of about 100 men, at Hadong in Indo-China. They are divided into small groups of four or five men and are specially trained to take over the ground and villages are recruited from soon after the withdrawal of the Vietminh rebels. They

London former Vietminh prisoners. ---

Express

NAGUIB

MAY RESIGN

Cairo, Apr. 4 Soma Egyptian political circles here considered that the resignation of President Naguib might Mohammed

be announced tomorrow as & result of the Revolu- Council tionary

meeting being held in Cairo to-

meeting over the Fresiding will be Lieut-Cul Gamal Abdei Nasser, the Vice-Premier, who 60 earlier today had spent

to General minutes talking Naguib, who has not left home for several days;

COFA

Mrs Jagan

Arrested

Georgetown, Apr. 5. Mrs Janet Jagan, wile of the deposed Premier of British Gulana, and eight other members of the People's Progressive Party were arrested today and charged with holding an Hegal procession.

The procession was in protest against the arrest of the ex-Premier Dr Cheddi Jagan, yesterday on a charge of defying an order forbidding him to leave Georgetown without permission.

Martin Carter and Rory Westmaas, two of the PFP today, members arrestell

were released on January

Geneva Conference Problems

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Eisenhower Prepares His H-Bomb Speech

Washington, Apr. 5. President Eisenhower will today attempt to case the mounting tension of the hydrogen bomb age in a nation-wide radio and tele- vision speech.

ot He spent yesterday secluded Maryland mountain retreat putting the finishing touches to a speech expected to strengthen the West's drive for agreement with the Suvlet Union on control of weapons of mass destruction,

Sir

At the same time, authorita- Live sources here. Hold Winston Churchill has requested

and received information from the United States for a speech of the H-bomb that ho deliver in

will

the British House of Commons today.

The two major speeches follow Saturday's call by the United Nations representatives of Bri- tain, the United States and France for a new meeting of the Disarmament Commission aimed with at reaching agreement Russia on atomic energy con- trols.

These moves are designed to allay widespread concern both here and abroad at the awesome power of the H-bomb revented by the United States tests in the Pacific last month,

Tel. 21433.

Evangelist's Appeal

Londen, Apr. 4.

The American evangeliát, Billy Graham; called yes terday for President Elsenhower

and

Queen Elizabeth II to take the icad in proclaiming дл International day of prayer to beat the hydrogen borab. Speaking at his first outdoor meeting in Bellain, in the famous Trafalgar Square, Mr Graham told approximately 12,000 per- sons that a "return to God" was the only way to beat

the "terror bomb".. The youthful American

the spoke from

foot of

Lord Nelson's column and sald, would

call

upen the President of the United States and upon the Queen for our two nations to take the lead in proclaiming a national and internationa?” day of prayer, asking Qód us." -- Pulted to deliver Press.

McCarthy

Again Pleads His Cause

New York, Apr. 4. Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican, Wisconsin) told a highly enthusiastic audience today that he Mr James Hagerty, the would continue to baitle President's Press

Secretary, Communism at home and

abroad.

would give no specific details of the speech, which will be de- Aivered over a television

radio

and

hookup at 1.30 a.m. GMT (Tuesday),

He merely commented that the Communion breakfast of will deal with "the concern of the American people and na- tional and domestic matters,"

TOO MUCH`HYSTERIA

Мис

Mr McCarthy addressed, more than 6,000 guests, including Francis Cardinal Spellman, at

department's Holy the police

Society. His half-hour was frequently inter- rupted by lengthy applause, and as he neared the end of tho talic, spectators shouted "keep But it was taken for granted,going, you're only warming

Typ and "keep giving it to them.” here that the speech will be an

The Senator London, Apr. 4 elaboration of Mr Eisenhower's

afterwards was from the Current political and three-minute lecture delivered practically carried

his March 17 press

Hotel Astor as police body- military factors in the Indo-at China problem are delaying ference, when he declared that guards around him fought past much hysteria" the throng which sought to there was "100 preparation of

shake his hund. A final in the world.

Senator McCarthy again call- Western brief on the issue He also

ed for end of US aid to nations which traded with Communist China,

expressed

con-

DONGUNIT

subversion.

for the Geneva conference, about public fears of the Soviet diplomatic sources here said today.

to

The Geneva meeting, due open on April 20, has two prob- loms before M peace scltla- ment for Korea and restoration

Indo-China, where of peace in France has now

for seven years.

Western

Union, Communist unwise congressional investiga- tora, depression, unemployment and the atomic oge.

Ho referred

feud with the

to his current he mamy when he wished "civilian

Although there has not been said the same degree of alarm in the pentagon politicians would stop

moralo United States over the hydrogen worrying about army bomb as has been manifested and instead improve moralo by been aghting abroad, it was felt the President telling soldiers "you will not be deserted in a Communist prison this opportunity to d would take refer to the need for interna- cell."

On domestic affairs, he said:

thousand

Wou

12 after 84 days' detention under the

tional control of the weapon. emergency ro-

In ito latest note last week,

zulations.

The

The PPP,

Jogan, was

led..by Dr

deposed from

power last October when It was accused of support- ing Communist objectives. -Reuter

tactles for the Korean discussions are expect- ed to be agreed meeting of the 18 United Nations beige

ents and South Korea in New York shortly.

But the brief for

on Indo-China the iniks

until a be tackled may not

before the conference weckt

opens.

"The first round of the battis Lunng

Waves of Vietminh for Dien Bien Phu

suleide is over. trtups, led by The round was clearly in our with dynamite strapped to their HERE are other good rea-favour," said a High Command chests to open a path through THERE

barbed wire, failed to loosen the sons for holding the fort-spokesman.

"Within loss than two weeks Fernch hold on a vital Southern ress, but for political rather the monsoons will stop ground Dien Bien Phu

outpost last than military reasons. By ighting.

Of course we expect night. clinging so desperately to them (the Communists) to A military apokesman said the take the battered bodies of 200 Reds were this tiny village surrounded į make

bid to fortress before by mountain and jungle,

the rains come. found drooping grotesquely over Each day

the barbed wire entanglements he added. counts," France has shown that it does not want the mountain Scores of Communist coun- before the post after the series

and of furious attacks lasting attaches people

region toes

assembled press reporters domination Clap's field headquarters of the Vietminh and this watch what the Reds expected defence perimeter were termed decision has paid the would be a spectacular Vietminh "sporadie".

Vietminh forces thrusting_Into | night. French over and over again victory. Command sources dis-

clused.

the sleepy kingdom of Cam- they have received

Stuff offrers credited French bodla, 500 miles to the south of much useful Support froni

Dien Bien Phu, were reported pilots with a large share fox the locally-organised anti-

checked outside the town of nv-day Red on- stopping the rebel realatance

Stem.peng. But groups, ¦ sinught dead in lis tracks.

of Heavy reinforcements must go to the out- Femen As military and political the palm

Cambodian

forces multi-lingual garlaunches objective Dien Bien Phu is numbered,

counte:- two heavy

It was expected that to- important to the Vietminh son of Colonel de Castries.

the attacks agams!

invading

night's Council meeting would too, for General Giap eb-

Reds and succeeded in stopping continue until a very late hour, SHORT OF SHELLS

Radio viously wishes to strengthen

Cairo Arabic- Sunday was "relatively calm" them.

The situation in the Vocun language broadcast the his grasp

less

with the

picked up compared

previous Sai sector

"confused", was of civillued hill people

French and

in Paris said that. Col Nasser Viehanlila days.

military observers said, al- North Tonkin before the

however,

Army Commander-in- and the traded artillery,

though the Reds had apparent Chief,

General Abdel Karim, of shells. But the the monsoons hundreds upproach of

ely decided not to occupy the

General Naguib conferred with Vietminh guns falled to keep uptown but to push later this month. An

on deeper for over an hour tonight. the ceaseless pounding of the

Into Cambodia. indication of General Giap's

initial stage of the

The National Guidance Minis- savage determination to take the baitic and for the first time in

ler, Major. Salch

told Salem, fortress was the invasion week French Union forces had

pressmen that the Council its decision week which

would not publish n certain respite. aimed

tonight.-France-Press?. The

Vietminh gunners, train-

FUNDS EARMARKED diverting French supplies ed by Communist Chino, op-

Cairo, Apr. 4. and reinforcements destined parently are running short of

semi-official newspaper French cMetals for Dien Bien Phu to some ammunition,

the Vietminh invasion "dell- Algoumbourla sald today that

and other part of the country. explained.

told the

had earmarked It was the key "Baid berate aggression"

government

Egyptian emergency 45,000,000

Salgon on the independence of pounds,

Vietnam within the French soon be seized from

of the members

the would Union

strengthen Heidelberg, Apr. 1. fantily, former Royal

for

Western hand in the Genevo creation River Anancing the

States United

Army the stake in the battle at

In the strategic Red

with ground fighting continued with

negotiations

Communist attacks by Communist factories,

authorities today announced

China and Vietminh, it is hold. present is more psychologi- unabated ferocity. Late in the delte

tho Halphong- The newspaper sald Vietminh guerillos on cal than political or mill-afternoon today, the

was the smashing of an inter. But the outcome of the Franco- Council and Colonial Revolutionary

extend benefits to national

ring Vietnamese talks is not expected Rightly or wrongly, forces, which had gained a fost Hanol rail line

smuggling hold on the hill several days Route Five paralleling it have planning, to this tiny fortress has be ago, began to pull slowly back dropped off suddently after three the labour class by starting a which operated in four coun- until Prince Buu Loc, the Vist- namese Prime Minister, returns come a symbol of French under French presure.

weeks of systematic night raids, workers Investment system in tries and handled $3,000,000 to the French capital in the

spokesman

the new factories. said. It was the first time, since the "

Workers would have the worth of currency, jewellery, middle of April. The bulk of supplies for Dien In some minds the outcome battle started six

. According to present plans, days ago to

of buying low-priced glod and elgarettes monthly. the "BIR of this struggle is even seen win a strong bargaining position Bien Phur's garrison pass through option

The announcement salForeign Ministers will not meet THE crucial battle of for the Communist insurgents the port of Haiphong and then shares and drawing dividends.

(Contd. on Back Page, Col. 2) -United Press.

"co-ordinated series of arrests"

until they assemble in Peris the campaign a turning in the forthcoming peace talks.

made in Germany and for the Atlantle Pact Council goined the point for the French, for that the garrison

France of "suspected initiative.

leaders session on Apr. 29. But diplo- of what is belfeved to be one matle quarters hore believe the better or for worse, The The French High Command danger of this belief is that announced today that French

of the largest smuggling rings three statesmen may arrange to if Dien Bien Phu falls it pilots hammering the besleging

operating in postwar Europe" hold a two or three-day

operated Inference before the NATO The Switzerland, but meeting. They would then be will be a shattering blow to Communists had cut the rebel Western morale, a psycholo- supply road from Red China in

Belgium and co arresta were made there. asked to approve draft plans gical shock to France and several places.

The Army said that $175,000 for Geneva, drawn up by off.. A High Command spokesman

worth of snuggled materials clals a week or so earlier, were confiscated. An estimates Reuter. 300 American military police

of

жая

Laus last

obviously

at

IT is impossible to escape the

on

KING'S FLIGHT

Young King Norodom returned to the Sihanouk capital of Pnom Penh after dying over the combat zone in his, private plane. He

Man" Hill guarding access from nowsmen the southeast into the dust bowl measures

conclusion, however, that Dien Bien Phu Valley that announced.

tary.

resistance to the Vietminh,

43

There

bombs

new would

colled The

of new

the

Left To Fight Their Own

Political

Battles

Washington, Apr, 4.

SMUGGLING

RING

This is because the French Government is anxious first to reach agreement with Vietnam, biggest of the three Associated States of Indo-China, on the Independence of the country, and because it is awaiting the aut come of the big battle for Dien Bien Phu.

BROKEN UP Agreement between Paris and

was

WOX

part

gpokesman

but

WETO

500 Lose Homes

Three" Western

con"

Blaze Destroys Hotel: Kills 5

Brisbane, Apr. 4.

Five men were killed and four

the Western world out of sald deadly 105 mm and heavy all proportion to the loss in mortar fire from the enoircling

The Democratic National Committee has decided to military potential to the sills held by the Reds had drop withhold support from Mr James Roosevelt, son of the French Union forces. Thoro ped off noticeably compared to late President in the forthcoming elections following and Customs investigators took

art in rounding UP

the gong. is also this consideration, previous days indications, he charges of infidelity brought against him by his wife. An Army. spokesman sal too, that with the Geneva

man's "cores of persons were prrest- conference three weeks off said, that the Communists were

It will also withhold support | Mr Mitchell said a

No namen were released (there is, admittedly, a good running low on ammunition.

from Representative Robert 14 "Innocence or guilt should inte While flights

Tho of US-made

Demo-be the burden of the Democratic immediately. deal of wishful thinking in B-268 ware postering Communist Condon, a Californian

were arrested this might artillery positiona. with. -2,000. erat, who was barred' from 'an Party," He emphasiacd that ho said no American milliary permen seriously burned when a this bolief)

ono-storey wooden commercial bo the last important battle pound'

and napalm, atomic bomb tost in Nevain in was not questioning the right of sonnel

hotel at Cunnamulia in Western of the campaign, and the fighter-bombers

Queensland was gutted following were swooping ay 1003 following charges of either man to seek office or the "Americans in Europe" prestige the

of

winner low over the Communist supply Communist association by un-right of voters to nominate or involved United Press.

an explosion today. them. dendec routes from the Chinese border, disclosed pursors. He has would be considerably

Two men died in the flames en- SUPPLY BOUTE OUT

In patation

when fremen and civilians lost A. Mitchell, Romelle Roosevelt named three hanced in Indo-China ifa

Mr Stephen The 100-mile route over which conso-fire were agreed upon; now vital supplies for General Den Laratie National Chairman, women with whom her husband

A are swept through a shantythe frantle 85-minute battle to ་་ This makes the battle all Vo Nguyen Glay's forces has ounced the decisions in a had allegedly committed inis

destroyed 100 hovels, the polico died shortly after being að-

mitted to hospital. the more a vital concern to been cut at a number of points letter to Mr Paul, Ziffren, océnduct and entered a letter in town quarter last night and control the blaze. Three others

Loader, in California, his name mentioning nine other the West and it is of the by intensive bombing, especially party

An estimated, 500 persons löst A special, DC-3 chartered by utmost importance for the around the stratogle crossroads when both Mr Roosevelt and women. He said he wrote the reported.

so that no additional their homes before the fire was the State government few to. point of Tuen Gho, 30 miles Representative Condon plan to letter French to hold out at all northeast of Dien Bien Phus the content Congressional elections burden" would be placed upon brought under control-United Cunnamulla and took the in-

his father-Reiter.

Pren

|||||jured here--United Fress. ! coats.

milliary spokesman unid.

the, charges.

· suit

Mra

Casablanca, Apr. 4.;

containing proposals for Euro

of

Moscow can do very

to us, but

* hurt

one Communist agent with a razor blade poised vein of this over the jugular of nation In an atomic energy the plant or in a polley-making

the death post with the America"

pean security, the Soviet Union pointedly cited the threat

wholesale annihilation.

The recent Pacific tests

bomb and the hydrogen disclosure that it could wreck any city on earth-

knowledge

mean

of

He said that # single Red agent in a university or school" is 10 times as dangerous as the

atom worst Red agent in an plant."-Reuter.

Russians that the also have the weapon were undoubtedly increasing pressure for a system of world control Router.

For an

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