Guerrilla Force In Vietnam Attacked

Press, Volume C, Issue 29554, 1 July 1961, Page 11

Guerrilla Force In Vietnam Attacked

(N.Z.P.A.-Reul*r —Copi/ngnt) SAIGON, June 29. Thirty-five Communists have been killed and 32 captured in the first stage of a massive South Vietnam Government drive to destroy the Communist guerrilla organisation in heavilyinfiltrated Vinh Binh Province, 160 miles south of Saigon. Official Government sources released the figures here today.

Government losses were said to be one dead and one wounded. A Reuter correspondent who spent the past three days living near Long Toan village with troops of the 33rd Regiment reported today that the operation was involving almost 3000 troops.

Apparently, most of the strong Communist guerilla forces in the province had scattered for cover in other provinces. Losses among Communists claimed by the Army referred to the first phase of the operation in which Government troops drove south through the province as far as the sea Government forces today were clearing out villages in Communist strongholds around the sea. But. during the past three days, very little resistance had been encountered. The Government oneration was put into effect when intelligence sources reported that Communist propaganda was threatening extension of Communist control throughout the province. They already controlled a

■'great portion. An example of i Communist penetration in I this province was the village r of Long Toan, in which live 7000 peple in 13 villages j Five of the villages were . controlled by the GovernI ment and eight by the Com- . munists at the start of the i operation. The large Government force this week was sweep- - ing through, but the importi ant question to villagers and s Government was: what hap- [ pens at the end of the opcra- ■ lion’ The situation in this . province was typical of that in many southern provinces, i The Government was sa:d - to be debating how many I troops and auxiliary civil i guards it could spare to ref mam permanently in this . area to reinforce the slender forces operating there bci fore the operation.