REBEL ATTACK OVER INDO-CHINA AREA

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5286, 24 December 1946, Page 5

REBEL ATTACK OVER INDO-CHINA AREA

LONDON, December 23. At least 50 Freneh soldiers were killed and 150 woumled in fighting in Hanoi, reported the Freneh news agency. v'iet Nam attacks extended over the whole oi' northern IndoChina. A number of European civilians are reported to have been killed or are missing. Following outbreaks of bitter fighting between Freneh forces and Annamese supporters of the autononiv movement in Indo-China, the acting-High Commissioner, General Louis Moliere, has assumed control of the Government. He has proclaimed martial law and a curfew in Hanoi, and prohibited the possession cf weapons' except with a special permit. General Moliere issued a statement that "the Biet-Minh (Independence party) perfidiously started hostilities on the same pattern as the Japanese aggression. The Viet Nam Government has fled. The Freneh authorities are ob'liged to restore order." Cireles close to the Freneh General Staff in Paris 'describe the situation in Indo-China as critical. There are 89,000 troops under Freneh eommand in Indo-China, and military experts say that if the disorders malfe largescale military operations necessary it would reauire 200,000 troops to "reconquer" the country. The Freneh Colonial Minister,- M. Marius Moutet, left by air yesterday for Indo-China. The Prime Minister, M. Blum, asked the Natipnal Assembly meantime to postpone a public debate on Indo-China until M. Moutet returns in a fortnight's time.