Initials JRC/S/MR/GH



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Background: UN TROOPS ARE CLOSING IN ON JADOTVILLE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHERE PRESIDENT TSHOMBE IS APPEALING FOR A LOCAL CEASE-FIRE TO ALLOW HIM TO GET THROUGH TO UN-OCCUPIED ELISABETHVILLE FOR PEACE TALKS.

THE KATANGA NATIONAL BANK IN ELISABETHVILLE - TAKEN OVER BY UN TROOPS - IS A FOCAL POINT IN THE KEY ISSUE OF SHARING REVENUES FROM KATANGA'S MINERAL RESOURCES. AND THE PRESIDENT HAS AID THE BANK'S DIRECTOR SHOULD ACCOMPANY HIM TO ELISABETHVILLE FOR DISCUSSIONS.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE CITY, GENERAL PREM CHAND, THE INDIAN COMMANDER OF THE UN FORCES IN KATANGA, TOLD REPORTERS THE UN ADVANCE OUT OF THE CITY ON MONDAY AND EARLY YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) HAD COME UNDER HEAVY MORTAR FIRE DURING THE STORMING OF TWO FORTIFIED VILLAGES. HE CALLED IT THE MOST SERIOUS ACTION SINCE THE FIGHTING BEGAN ON FRIDAY.

ETHIOPIAN TROOPS ENCIRCLED THE AFRICAN TOWNSHIP OF KATUBA -- 100,000 INHABITANTS -- ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY AND TOOK THE UNION MINIERE BUILDING. KATANGESE AMBULANCES WITH DEAD AND WOUNDED INSIDE UNDERWENT A STRICT ARMS SEARCH AS THEY WENT THROUGH UN CHECK POSTS ON THEIR WAY TO THE ELISABETHVILLE HOSPITAL.

AT LUBUMBASHI, ANOTHER HOSPITAL, BELONGING TO THE UNION MINIERE, CAME UNDER MORTAR FIRE IN THE UN ADVANCE, AND THERE WAS VIOLENT COMBAT REPORTED AROUND IT BETWEEN ETHIOPIAN AND KATANGESE TROOPS. KATANGESE REPORTS PUT THE NUMBER OF CIVILIANS KILLED IN AND AROUND THE HOSPITAL AT OVER 60.

ON THE HIGHWAY TO JADOTVILLE OUT OF ELISABETHVILLE, HUNDREDS OF AFRICAN CIVILIAN REFUGEES TRAMPED ALONG IN THE WAKE OF WITHDRAWING KATANGESE ARMY TRUCKS AND TROOPS. SOME MANAGED TO GET A LIFT. BUT MOST WERE OVERTAKEN BY THE UN ADVANCING COLUMN OF TROOP-LADEN TRUCKS.

IRISH TROOPS OF THE UN FORCE IN THE ADVANCE HAVE TAKEN UP POSITIONS WITH MACHINE-GUN AND MORTAR NESTS AT KIPUSHI AFTER OCCUPYING KATANGESE VANTAGE POINTS OVERLOOKING THE NORTHERN RHODESIA BORDER.

THOUSANDS OF KATANGESE REFUGEES ARE POURING TOWARDS THE FRONTIER, AND WITH THEM GOES THEIR LIFE'S BELONGINGS ON THEIR HEADS. ONCE THROUGH THE BORDER - HEAVILY GUARDED BY THE RHODESIAN FEDERAL ARMY - THE REFUGEES WHOSE PAPERS ARE IN ORDER HAVE SET UP MAKESHIFT CAMPS IN THE SHELTER OF THE FOREST. BUT MOST ARE CAMPING IN THE OPEN AIR JUST OUTSIDE THE BORDER. (A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STATEMENT SAYS THE REFUGEES ARE FLEEING IN TERROR FROM THE ETHIOPIAN TROOPS, WHOM KATANGESE SOURCES BLAME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASSACRE OF CIVILIANS).