V. Cong Destroy Barracks

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30951, 6 January 1966, Page 9

V. Cong Destroy Barracks

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON, January 5. Viet Cong guerrillas destroyed barracks and inflicted casualties on South Vietnamese and United States forces in an intense mortar attack on an isolated United States Special Forces camp today, a U.S. spokesman announced.

Government casualties at the Khe Sanh camp, near the Laotian border 125 miles north-west of the vital Da Nang air base, were described as moderate. Light casualties were reported among the dozen United States special forces advisers at the camp. The Viet Cong first attacked after dusk last night but withdrew after a two-hour mortar barrage when United States aircraft bombed and strafed the area.

Early this morning they attacked again, destroying the United States barracks and several other buildings, the spokesman said. Outpost Shelled The Viet Cong also kept up harassment of Government outposts around Quang Ngai, a provincial capital 70 miles south of Da Nang.

They shelled and machinegunned the Cong Hoa outpost for the third successive night but were again repulsed by the defending company. A smaller outpost at Hon Ba reported shelling and light casualties late last night. Guerrillas inflicted moderate losses on regional forces when they ambushed a truck carrying them between two district headquarters about 12 miles south of Da Nang. South Vietnamese paratroopers yesterday captured four Viet Cong nurses in Hau Nghia province, about 20 miles

west of Saigon, in an operation which also involved United States, Australian and New Zealand units.

The South Vietnamese Government decided at a War Cabinet meeting yesterday to halve the nightly four-hour curfew in the Saigon area for the Vietnamese new year holiday from January 20 to 24, Government officials said in the capital today. The North Vietnam News Agency today said the Viet Cong had released 28 Government soldiers captured in recent battles in Thu Dau Mot province. They were freed on December 28.

The news agency today also reported 30,000 South Vietnamese had demonstrated in Can Tho province against spraying of toxic chemicals by United States forces. ■