Despite its very modest numbers — 3 infantry companies (4/10th R.M.I.C.), a camp company (Europeans), 10
G.I. platoons and 3 parachute groups from outside (Captains Fabre , Serres and Tual) —, the group of North Laos will retreat to China at the end of May leaving in Indochinese territory guerrillas (Commander Imfeld) who will survive until the Japanese defeat.
The group (commander Mayer) has as its first mission to prohibit access to the Tran Ninh plateau in order to preserve the free disposal of the landing grounds of the Plain of Jars. If these lands are not used, the group must remain as long as possible in Indochinese territory.
Although surprised by the Japanese attack emerging from Nongkhai (Thailand) on the training camp of Chi Nai Mo (March 10), our elements in Vientiane managed to leave the capital at the end of the day thanks to the resistance put up by the defenders of the camp.
The Tran Ninh plateau will remain available
— thanks in part to the Fabre (
Paksane region), Tual (R.C. 13) and Serres (R.C. 7) groups
—until around March 20, when Commander Mayer knows that its use is no longer being considered.
To fulfill the second part of its mission, the group will fight a retreat by
closing in, initially, on Luang Prabang (end of March). On March 27, significant losses were inflicted on the Japanese on R.C. 13 (north of Phou Koum). In early April, fighting at Pak Vet delayed the entry of the Japanese into Luang Prabang. about a thousand men - will leave upper Laos by crossing the Mek at Ban Sai (30 km northeast of Muong Sai), around May 25.
This long retreat was made possible thanks to the total support that the local populations gave to our forces.