DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Airborne Landing

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 15

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Airborne Landing

(NZ. Press Association —Copyright) SANTO DOMINGO (Dominican Republic), April 30. United States airborne troops began landing outside Santo Domingo early today to join a force of some 1700 marines in protecting American civilians and property in the revolt-torn Dominican Republic.

The American troops were being landed at the San Isidro base, 20 miles from Santo Domingo and the headquarters of the military forces battling the rebels. Yesterday 1200 marines landed from six Navy ships off-shore, reinforcing the 500 marines who landed on Wednesday to evacuate more than 2000 American residents of

the Dominican Republic. Heavy fighting continued throughout the day and into the evening in Santo Domingo as Army rebels and armed civilians seeking the return of the deposed President, Juan Bosch, battled with the military elements opposing him. Gunfire was heard throughout the evening but died down shortly after midnight. During the day snipers attacked the United States Embassy and four Latin American Embassies. At least five snipers were killed in an exchange of fire with United States Marines and Dominican troops at the American Embassy. At the end of the fifth day of fighting, estimates of the Dominican dead ranged from 400 to more than 1000.