PARADE AREA SHELLED IN SAIGON; U.S. SHIP SUNK

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31206, 2 November 1966, Page 17

PARADE AREA SHELLED IN SAIGON; U.S. SHIP SUNK

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) / SAIGON, November 1. The Viet Cong pumped about 20 high explosive shells into the heart of Saigon as the city celebrated South Vietnam’s National Day today.

Twelve Vietnamese and a United States naval officer were killed and 37 persons were wounded, the Associated Press reported.

Most of the casualties were caused by a shell which burst in the city’s packed Central Market place. It sent shrapnel tearing through crowds making their way to watch a big military parade. Other shells, believed to be from Chinese 75 m.m. weapons, landed within a few yards of the area where the parade was due to take place

to mark the third anniversary of the overthrow of President Ngo Dinh Diem. The shells hit the city’s main Roman Catholic Cathedral, a French-run hospital, and a Roman Catholic high school.

They were apparently fired from a village three or four miles from the centre of Saigon in two attacks 100 minutes apart. In another attack as National Day dawned, guerrillas mined and sank a United States minesweeper in the Long Tau river, south of Saigon, strafing it with heavy automatic weapons fire and inflicting heavy casualties on the crew. River Closed

An American military spokesman said the river, Saigon’s main link with the sea, was closed temporarily as minesweepers checked the channel for more mines and troops and flare ships searched for the Viet Cong. At the Saigon market, blood covered the street beside a small shell crater and blood-soaked shoes littered the area. At the nearby city hospital five mangled bodies lay awaiting identification.

A United States military spokesman said one American officer was killed in the attacks. It was the first bombardment of the capital since the days after the 1954 Geneva agreement on Vietnam.

The first attack came just before 7 a.m. before official guests were due to arrive at the parade reviewing stands and as thousands of people

were streaming through bright morning sunshine towards the parade area. The march-past was taken by the Head of State, Lieu-tenant-General Nguyen Van Thieu, and Air Vice-Marshal Nguyen Cao Ky. Troops included contingents from

South Vietnam’s seven fighting allies—the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. Australia and New Zealand combined to provide Anzac representation in the National Day celebrations.