V. Cong Beaten Back

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30856, 15 September 1965, Page 17

V. Cong Beaten Back

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SAIGON, Sept. 14.

A South Vietnamese battalion beat back a Viet Cong force twice its size in jungle fighting only 20 miles from Saigon last night, a United States military spokesman said today, United Press International reported.

The Viet Cong attack was on the town of Cau Dinh. Helicopters and fighter planes helped the Government forces.

The spokesman said the guerrillas attacked in an area north to north-west of Saigon. The Viet Cong losses were not known and Government losses were light, the spokesman said. The Associated Press reported that a flight of 852 jet

bombers based at Guam saturated a Viet Cong stronghold this morning in a raid north of Saigon. The eight-engine strategic air command planes pounded a target south of Ben Cat, a district town in Binh Duong province about 20 miles north of the capital. It was the 23rd announced strike in the war by the bombers. 5000 Troops Land

Five thousand more troops of the United States First Cavalry Division poured ashore yesterday at Qui Nhon, about 260 miles north of Saigon, United Press International reported. Their arrival boosted American strength to the 128,000 mark. Advance units of the 20,000man division already were reported to have “made contact” with Viet Cong guerrillas around an inland base prepared for the strike force being thrown into the war against the Communists. U.S. spokesmen refused to give any details of the “contact” on security grounds.

They also refused to disclose the location of the base but are expected to do so when the division completes the move.