BITTER MEKONG DELTA CLASH

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30738, 30 April 1965, Page 11

BITTER MEKONG DELTA CLASH

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

SAIGON, April 29.

Bitter fighting in the Mekong Delta yesterday left two American Army advisers dead and a third wounded. Government casualties were 12 dead and 39 wounded.

The Viet Cong was reported to have left 60 dead in the field.

U.S. Air Force 857 jet bombers carried out a midnight attack on North Vietnam last night. The raids went on until early today and moderate success was reported.

The aircraft dumped 13 tons of bombs on three main highways, blasting numerous craters.

American and Vietnamese fliers destroyed barracks, boats and bridges in seven raids on North Vietnam yes-

terday while the ground action picked up south of the border. In Honolulu, the commander of the U.S. Marine Corps, General Wallace Greene, said any invasion of South Vietnam by Chinese or North Vietnamese would be blocked by marines at Da Nang. “Any invasion force,” the open-shirted general told a news conference, "will find Marines in their way.” The arrival of the Marine expeditionary force had changed the picture in the Da Nang area. “What is needed in Vietnam are first-class fighters,” General Greene said. “The problem in Vietnam will not be solved by arithmetic or numbers, but by fighters and that’s what we have there now.” He said the battles being fought in the Da Nang area were “normal actions for Marines.

“These have been probing actions by the Viet Cong,” the general said. “They are trying to find out how we do business, and they are finding out.”

In Washington, President Johnson was reported to feel that the last week had brought an improvement in the Vietnam situation. Factors on which Mr Johnson was said to have based his judgment were increasing desertions by North Vietnamese soldiers; an increase in enlistment for the South Vietnamese Armed Forces: and Government losses now of only one man for seven guerrillas killed. At one time this ratio had been one to one. i Officials said the President was convinced the morale of the Viet Cong was deteriorating, and the morale of the South Vietnamese improving. The officials said Washington felt the atmosphere for discussions on a peaceful settlement of the conflict had recently improved slightly. But there was still no immediate sign the Communist side was willing to talk. In Binh Long province, 80 miles south-west of Saigon, a Government force yesterday clashed with a strong Viet Cong unit. One U.S. Army adviser was critically wounded in the opening volley.

An attempt by an armed relief column to rescue the trapped Government troops and the wounded American was beaten off.

American Army helicopters then attempted to reach the wounded, but were forced out of the area by heavy groundfire.

The unit of ground troops, including an American, fought its way into the battle zone.

Viet Cong fire killed the American and the American wounded earlier also died. The Government said it lost 12 killed and 35 wounded while 20 dead Viet Cong were counted.

In Kien Hoa province, 60 miles south of Saigon, a combined amphibious-helicopter Government attack was launched yesterday against a suspected Viet Cong training centre.

Government forces launched the operation in the early morning, after jet fighters had softened up the area. They encountered fierce opposition at the site of the suspected training centre. After the first engagement, in which four Government troops were wounded, U.S. advisers counted 42 Viet Cong bodies on the field. Thirtyfour Viet Cong were captured.

The operation was reported to be continuing today, although there was no further report of contacts with the Viet Cong.