U.S. ST LAOS

THE United States is being forced to increase its military commitment in Laos because of the growing operations of the Pathet Lao (the Laotian equivalent of the Vietcong).

The bombing by US aircraft of the liberated zone, controlled by the Pathet Lao, has been considerably stepped up in the last few months.

The Nixon administration draws a very thin veil over this by admitting only to sible for 46 per cent turnover.

Managing such a company is not without its benefits.

Between them John and Michael Clark, brothers and chief executive directors, earned £118,000 last year, according to the annual report.

John received mere £52,000 (or £25 an hour based on a 40-hour week, depending, on how you look at it).

However these gentlemen are still only in the middle rank of Britain's top salary earners.

John Clark regards it as bloody nuisance' ('The Times" September 23) to have to disclose his earnings.

He commented: 'I earned it, profits were up, and don't see why I shouldn't take it' Frank talk from Mr. Clark.

should equally The telecommunications industry should be nationalized without compensation and under workers' controlin particular Plesseys and the AEI-GEC-EE combine.

Cut loose

Whilst these private monopolies prepare to cash in on grow predicted 'phenomenal' the GPO data transmission and computor services, the GPO itself is to cut loose from the Treasury and become a 'public •COPporation' on October 1.

The public corporations have become the artificial limbs of British capitalism, sustaining backward industry that could not otherwise survive in world markets.

Post Office workers and engineers who have had the Prices and Income Act waved in their faces every time they make a pay claim should pay great attention to the GPO's financial affairs.

They must demand that trade unions have full access to the GPO's detailed accounts. CPS UP 'armed reconnaissance flights'.

But already 100 US nilots have been shot down anu captured in the communist-controlled areas.

ried out from Thailand cere the US has always tried to pretend that no such bomber bases existed.

The US involvement in Laos is very similar to that which it had about five years ago in Vietnam.

Extremely important logistical support for the Royal Laotian army through two private airines, Air America and Air Continental (believed to be closely connected with the CIA), which transport soldiers, supplies and ammunition.

These airlines are staffed by civilians, but even fly troops into the battle zones and evacuate casualties.

American troops merely act as 'advisers', supervising operations, but US spokesmen deny that they take any part in them.

The US also finances and controls the 15,000 Montagnard tribesmen, organized into the special forces to fight in the Pathet Lao controlled areas.

The escalation of the Laos war forced on the US comes, of course, at the same time that Nixon is trying to make face-saving end to the Vietnam war because of growing economic and political problems at home.

This highlights the difficulty of the US in continuing its role as the world-wide police force of imperialism when the weaknesses of the whole system are being brought to the surface.