Aust. Role In Vietnam

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30780, 18 June 1965, Page 13

Aust. Role In Vietnam

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) BIEN HOA (South Vietnam) June 16. Australian troops could be sent anywhere they were needed in Vietnam at any time, the commander of the Australian forces, Lieutenant - Colonel Brumfield, said today.

He said part or all of the battalion could have been included in Sunday’s airlift of United States troops to Puoc Vinh, 60 miles north of Saigon.

American transports flew 750 men of the 173rd Brigade, stationed at Vung Tau south of Saigon, into Phuoc Vinh, the airstrip used as a springboard for Government operations in the Dong Xoai area.

Colonel Brumfield said: “If the Australians had been needed at Phuoc Vinh, I’m sure they would have been sent.

“This also applies to any other key airstrip or installation in any part of the country. I know the chaps don’t want to spend all their time sitting on their backsides here.” He said the battalion was continuing preparations for full operational roles in coordination with battalions of the 173rd Brigade.

The thousand-man Australian contingent is deployed in defensive security at the base with 2500 United States paratroops.

Yesterday, the United States armed forces commander, General Westmoreland, spoke to the Australians. He said that although the United States and South Vietnamese forces did have enormous fire

power from the air, trained infantry were still needed to find and hold the Viet Cong until they could be dealt with. This would be the Australians’ role.