V. Cong Raid Inflicts Heavy Casualties

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31166, 16 September 1966, Page 13

V. Cong Raid Inflicts Heavy Casualties

N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright)

DA NANG, September 15.

American and South Vietnamese troops suffered heavy casualties today in a Viet Cong mortar and grenade attack on their combined post at Binh Son, on the Central Vietnamese coast.

A Marine spokesman said the mixed company of United States Marines and Government forces retaliated with small arms and artillery fire during the 15-minute Viet Cong barrage. Viet Cong casualties were not known. The attack came soon after a similar assault by 50 or 60 guerrillas yesterday on another combined company post further. north. Government and United States losses in this action, near the village of Triem Tu, south-east of Da Nang, were also described as heavy. Nine of the attacking Viet Cong were killed. A combined action_ company consists of 40 to 50 men. including about a dozen United States marines. United States air cavalrymen swarmed through South Vietnam's central highlands in one of the largest helicopter assaults of the war. The objects of the push—a Communist division which had been terrorising vilagers—retreated. Units of the Ist Air Cavalry Division reported killing 14 Communists yesterday. This brought to 76 the number of

Communists killed so far in, < the operation. p The big drive by other ele-p ments of the Ist Air Cavalry north of Saigon was against the “Yellow Star Division,” ■ composed of both North Viet- , namese regulars and Viet Cong. Spokesmen said an American helicopter was shot down during the operation but the crew escaped injury. In Washington some senior . United States military officers indicated that United States 1 ground forces will probably • extend their operations into ; South Vietnam's delta region ’ by early next year. ' Some said there was a good | , chance the United States j would have its infantry in the!

delta within six months. Others speak of this happening as the first of the year. The South Vietnamese Army now has chief responsibility for fighting the Viet Cong in the delta, the couni try’s rice bowl and one of its most heavily populated regions. So far, the United States has limited its operations in the delta to advising South Vietnamese troops, providing helicopter and air attack support, air power and sending out navy river pat”ols.