NORTH VIET NAM: The Far East, Too

The Communist radio of North Viet Nam joined in reluctant unity with its Communist brothers in Eastern Europe. It had trouble to report, too. “Riots,” said the Red radio, “broke out in Nghean Province when a gang of reactionaries, taking advantage of mistakes committed during the political implementation of the land reform, molested soldiers and cadres of the people’s regime, seized quantities of arms and blocked traffic. Many dead and wounded were reported among the soldiers and cadres. Drastic measures have been taken to maintain security.”

The overpopulated province of Nghean, which lies south of Hanoi, is a troubled ground that in an earlier day produced wispy, goateed Communist Dictator Ho Chi Minh. According to reports reaching South Viet Nam, peasants armed with swords and farm tools surprised Communist guards and took their weapons. Some Viet Minh local units joined the rebels, too. General Hoang Sam’s crack 304th Division drove the insurgents into the hills, where they are now setting up the kind of guerrilla resistance that Comrade Ho pioneered.