Vietnam In Brief

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31409, 30 June 1967, Page 11

Vietnam In Brief

Developments in the Vietnam war include:— MELBOURNE, June 29.

A conscientious objector to Australia’s participation in the Vietnam war was granted exemption from National Service in the City Court today. David Anthony Monahan, aged 21, of Toorak, told the Court he would be the “first to enlist” if Australia was attacked but he was against the Vietnam conflict. Monahan said he was against doing any form of military service at present because this would release another man to go to Vietnam. The Magistrate said he was convinced Monahan had a conscientious belief against serving in the military forces at present.—(N.Z.P.A.) SAIGON, June 29. Viet Cong guerrillas staggered under a fierce allied assault, lashed by a rain of jet strikes and artillery fire. In one action, United States armoured cavalrymen and

South Vietnamese Rangers fanned out in thick jungle to pin down 500 Communists. More than 2000 troops have been thrown into the fight, about 45 miles east of Saigon. —(N.Z.P.A.) WASHINGTON, June 29.

The United States yesterday rejected a Soviet request that airmen who strafed a Soviet freighter off North Vietnam should be punished.— (Reuter.) MELBOURNE, June 29.

The Vietnamese war could be won easily if the allies did not take so much care to protect the civilian population, according to a member of the Australian Military Board, Major-General N. A. Vickery. “It would be quite an easy war to fight if you did as we did in the last war in Europe,” he said.—(N.Z.P.A.) SAIGON, June 29.

North Vietnam’s important Dinh power complex, 46 miles south-east of Hanoi, was reported virtually in ruins today after the fourth United States raid on it in less than a week.—(Reuter.) SAIGON, June 29.

A North Vietnamese said to be a battalion commander who defected to South Vietnamese forces in northerly Quang Ngai province, has turned out to be a corporal.— (Reuter.) WASHINGTON, June 29.

A Senate investigation of the air war against North Vietnam was revealed yesterday in the face of claims that the effectiveness of the bombing had been falsely criticised, the Associated Press reported.—(N.Z.P. A.)