There is still no piece of land on the war-ravaged subcontinent that the imperialist-backed forces hold with certainty. Not only do the revolutionaries control most of Laos and Cambodia but Washington is worried that they may be planning a significant offensive in South Vietnam itself.

An unusual glimpse of the results of U.S. bombardment in Laos was provided by Southeast Asia expert T. D. Allman in the British Manchester Guardian Weekly, January 1. Allman had been permitted to fly over the Plaine des Jarres just before the new revolutionary offensive.

"Until recently the area provided a living for a population of more than 20,000," Allman wrote. "Now it is empty and ravaged, a striking example of what less than three years of intensive U.S. bombing can do to a rural area."

January 25, 1947
Faced with rapidly spreading sympathy strikes in support of the demands of 15,000 London truck drivers, the British Government agreed to set up a Joint Industrial Council, charged with bringing in recommendations on the workers' grievances. On this basis the strikers agreed to go back to work until January 26, and the government withdrew its strike-breaking troops.

The truck drivers went out on strike despite orders of union heads to stay on the job. The men decided that only strike action could bring an end to the delay of the Government Wage Board in setting the contract negotiated last May. With wages about $20 a week, the truck drivers demanded they be paid for over-time in cash instead of in time off. They insisted on legal holidays and two-weeks vacation with pay, and a 44-hour week.

The government mobilized crack regiments to smash the strike. This brazen action so incensed British workers that within a few days more than 50,000 dock workers, bargemen, food warehouse workers and others joined the picket line. Strikes and stoppages occurred in 15 other cities.  
 
 
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