SALISBURY: A group of nationalist guerrillas, estimated to be 50 strong, were reliably reported today [March 20] to be slowly fighting their way south towards Salisbury harassed by Mr Ian Smith’s and South African troops, jet fighters, and helicopters.

Salisbury authorities refused to divulge the actual location of the fighting, but informants here said the guerrillas appeared to have advanced about 45 miles and were now about 170 miles north of Salisbury.

Mr Ian Smith’s troops claim to have killed 14 patriots and captured others for the loss of two of their own men dead. In Lusaka, the Zimbabwe Liberation Movement said today its guerrillas had shot eight whites in the “second great offensive in the liberation war”.

A joint statement issued here by the Zimbabwe (Rhodesian) African Peoples Union (ZAPU) and the African National Congress (ANC) (a group banned in South Africa) said the current armed drive in Rhodesia was an extension of the offensive in the Wakis area last August.

The acting leader of ZAPU, Mr James Chikereama, told [agency] that the drive aimed to take control of Rhodesia and punish those who deserved punishment. He said the prime object was to capture “Lofty” Militon, the white Rhodesian who carried out the recent hangings of five Rhodesian nationalists.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2018