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FRENCH RETREAT
'BEFORE REBELS
IN INDO-CHINA
PARIS, Wednesday
The French Army in Into
sheba: 'was' retreating before a
huge offensive launched by Vietminh
rebels, Government officials
admitted here yesterday- It
is. feared the object of the
attack is to capture country
north of Thai Federation, which
would give Communists control
over another 100 miles of Indo-
china's frontier with China.
In that case, French troops
would be left with only - one big
border-at Monday, in the extreme
east.
Fierce battles are expected to
begin in the next few days.
Movements of French forces are
being kept secret.
Battles will be fought hand-to-hand
in the thick jungle where
the use of tanks is restricted and
the effect of French air raids
greatly deadened.
The Minister for Defence, Mr.
Rene Pleven, yesterday gave details
of an alleged Communist
plan to halt arms production, impede
the campaign-in Indo-China
and prevent the construction of
American bases in France.
A 135-page dossier tabled in
Parliament included photostat
copies of documents seized during
recent police raids on Communist
Party offices
Mr. Pleven I submitted the report
following the Government's
decision to prosecute five top
Communist leaders.
All five are members of Parliament
and the National Assembly
must vote to. lift parliamentary
immunity before any court
action can be taken.
Two other Communist leaders
not members of Parliament
have been charged with attempts
to undermine the morale of the
armed forces.
Documents in the dossier included
an "Indo-China" plan to
prevent the departure of troops,
and war materials to Indo-China.
This called for dock and rail
strikes wherever workers were
called on to load transports for
Indo-China.
Another document in the form
of a letter to trade unions in
southern France recommend action
against construction of air-
fields, atomic bases, arms and
petrol dumps and barracks for
American troops. 4
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