FURTHER V. CONG ATTACK ON AIR BASE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 15

FURTHER V. CONG ATTACK ON AIR BASE

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter—Copyright f

SAIGON, July 2.

Viet Cong guerrillas last night poured mortar fire into an American base at Sue Trang, 80 miles south of Saigon, forcing temporary evacuation of helicopters on the field.

A military spokesman today said one helicopter had been shot down, but the crew were rescued. Three other Americans were wounded in the mortar bombardment, and six other helicopters were damaged, according to other reports from the base.-

Official figures issued in Saigjn late this morning said the Viet Cong poured 17 rapid rounds of mortar fire into the base, one of the positions from which American air power endeavours to control the vital Mekong delta area south of Saigon. In Underwear Aircrew scrambled for their aircraft in their underwear, while the Vietnamese infan try garrison launched patrols to locate and quell the Viet Cong mortar. They found a position for a 81 mm. mortar, with 40 rounds and 12 expended. The attack on Soc Trang follows a mortar-backed com m'ndo-style raid yesterday on the giant American base at Da Nang, on the north coast I of South Vietnam. The South Korean Cabinet ■today decided to send one

Korean combat unit to help against the Viet Cong. The Public Information Minister, Mr Chong-Chui Hong, announced in Seoul that the National Assembly would be asked to approve a

> bill authorising the troop dispatch on a date to be fixed. i South Korea already has a 1 2500-strong engineer and 1 transport unit and an army i mobile surgical unit serving i in Vietnam.