Mortar Barrage Of Saigon Feared

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30619, 9 December 1964, Page 21

Mortar Barrage Of Saigon Feared

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) SAIGON (Vietnam), December 8. Viet Cong forces smashed defences of a district capital, 260 miles north-east of Saigon yesterday and seized two 4.2 inch mortars and 300 high explosive shells—possibly for a planned shelling of Saigon, the Associated Press reported.

This was believed to be the first time in the war the Viet Cong had captured such heavy weapons. The 4.2 mortar, the largest mortar in standard use, is used in Vietnam as artillery. The attack on a Lao district headquarters began about dawn on Monday, military spokesmen reported today. The 18 defenders of the post reportedly were overrun and a nearby mortar position was seized. On Monday afternoon, Government relief forces moved

up on the Viet Cong and retook the headquarters but continued to draw heavy enemy fire. Casualties for the two sides were not initially reported. The action occurred in Binh Dinh province, where territory and population have been falling increasingly under Viet Cong control in recent months. The 4.2 mortar is much more powerful and has st greater range than the mortars used by the Viet Cong in shelling Bien Hoa airfield on November 1. In that attack the Viet Cong damaged or destroyed 27 planes, including 20 U.S. Air Force jet bombers.

There have been reports the Viet Cong might be planning a mortar barrage of Saigon soon.