N.Z. ENGINEERS REACH SAIGON

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30481, 1 July 1964, Page 16

N.Z. ENGINEERS REACH SAIGON

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) SAIGON, June 30. Twenty-six New Zealand combat engineers flew into Saigon yesterday to join Americans and Australians in the fight to keep the Communists from taking over South Vietnam. “Welcome to the frontier of the free world,” said the United States military commander, Lieutenant-General William C. Westmoreland, who was on hand at Saigon Airport with several hundred Vietnamese to welcome the blue-bereted New Zealanders. Crowds of students carried

signs saying "Long Live New Zealand-Vietnamese Friendship” and “Thanks For Coining To Help Us.” Pretty Vietnamese girls wrapped leis around the necks of the engineers, all of whom -volunteered for the job. The New Zealanders are being posted initially to Thu Dau Mot, a nominally secure area about 20 miles north of Saigon. They will be engaged in building roads and bridges in the Vietnam Government’s “pacification” campaign. Major Barry Brighouse, of Christchurch, led the New Zealanders at their reception at Saigon Airport. “Among The First” Mr Vin Hi Tho, secretarygeneral at the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry," said: “New Zealand was among the first of the countries to respond to our appeals. Your presence affirms the solidarity in this critical hour for freedom.” Major-General Sir Stephen Weir, the New Zealand Ambassador to Thailand and Vietnam, said: “I am very glad to see you here. The outcome of this struggle is of the greatest importance to the whole free world—including New Zealand.”

After the official welcome, the New Zealanders mingled with the Vietnamese crowd. They will stay one week in Saigon before going into the field.

The Vietnam Government will provide their equipment and the United- States their arms. Tho New Zealand commander in Vietnam is Lieu-tenant-Colonel W. T. Foley of Taranaki.

Colonel L. A. Kermode, commanding New Zealand units in British Far East Land Forces, accompanied the troops in their flight to Vietnam in an R.N.Z.A.F. transport