Railways Bombed North Of Hanoi

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31399, 19 June 1967, Page 13

Railways Bombed North Of Hanoi

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SAIGON, June 18. United States bombers ranged deep into North Vietnam yesterday to attack eight railway yards and sidings, most of them north of Hanoi. Pilots reported they destroyed or damaged 68 freight waggons. Air Force planes bombed the Kep railway yard, 38 miles north-east of Hanoi, and close to the much-battered Kep MiG airbase.

Simultaneously, United States Navy pilots from the aircraft carrier Bon Homme Bichard struck against the main railway line from Hanoi south to the important traffic centre at Thanh Hoa. Six United States soldiers were wounded when an American artillery round accidentally hit the perimeter of a United States base camp north-east of Lai Khe, 30 I miles north of Saigon. An American troop-carrying aircraft crashed last night killing 28 of the 49 passengers land crew. The plane, a Her-

cules, crashed and burned at the United States base at An Khe, 240 miles north-east of Saigon. When Viet Cong troops surprised an American battalion in a jungle clearing 31 Americans were killed and 113 wounded, but the Viet Cong lost 196 dead. A Communist guerrilla yesterday shot down a United States helicopter and fired into the ranks of American paratroopers at its landing zone in the heavily-jungled northern coast. Officials said the Communists killed three Ameri-

cans and injured 32 in the clash, part of a widespread seven-hour battle to drive the guerrillas from strongpoints menacing American supply routes. United States Marines reported killing 58 Communists in the northern provinces. United States special forces troopers said they had killed 59 Communists in 12 scattered clashes. South Korean forces ended Operation Angry Dragon 11. They said that they killed 159 Communists in the week-long operation while suffering “light” casualties themselves.