S. VIETNAM NATIONAL DAY PARADE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30897, 2 November 1965, Page 19

S. VIETNAM NATIONAL DAY PARADE

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SAIGON, Nov. 1.

South Vietnam marked its national day today with a two-hour parade under a blazing sun.

American troops marched with Vietnamese soldiers and loin-cloth clad Montagnard tribesmen with spears and crossbows to celebrate the revolt that toppled President Ngo Dinh Diem two years ago. The anniversary—sometimes called “national heroes” day and sometimes "revolution” or “national” day—is the country’s most important national holiday. The Prime Minister, General Ky, shared the reviewing stand with the United States Ambassador, Mr Henry Cabot Lodge, and General William Westmoreland, the American commander in Vietnam. BOMBER SALUTE

For the first time, 857 fighter-bombers given to the Vietnamese Government by the Americans, were unveiled. The jets flew over the parade route with a roar, wheeled and flew back again. Also making their first public appearance were two com-

panies of Wacs formed by the Vietnamese Army several months ago. The women were dressed in olive drab skirts and white

blouses and garrison caps. They marched with a precision that put some of the men to shame. The Montagnards marched bare-footed in red-and-black embroidered loin cloths and in addition to American carbines, they carried their spears and shields. The Montagnard militia brought their women with them, marching in tribal 1 sarongs and carrying the I cross-bows. The group was led by offii cers riding bare-back on yeli low mountain ponies.