HEAVIEST BOMBING IN THREE MONTHS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31656, 17 April 1968, Page 11

HEAVIEST BOMBING IN THREE MONTHS

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

SAIGON, April 16.

American jets had given North Vietnam its biggest bomb pounding in more than three months, a United States military spokesman said.

The violent raids ’ came as Washington ] and Hanoi wrangled over a venue for possible talks with no ’ agreement yet in ' sight. | Air Force, naval and marine ’ pilots flew 143 missions on ■ Sunday—the highest daily i total since January 6—rang- ’ ing close to the 19th parallel

to blast radar sites, bridges, roads, troop concentrations, trucks and boats. The United States cruiser St Paul offshore also bombarded targets in North Vietnam's southern half. American Stratofortresses today bombed the southern section of the main Communist supply route to South Vietnam, hitting three supply dump areas in the A Shau valley. The eight-engined jets

struck near the Laos border in the jungle district through which the Ho Chi Minh trail runs from North Vietnam. Communist forces hit sharply at United States units yesterday in three widely scattered land and river attacks ranging from the Mekong Delta to the far north of South Vietnam. Nine Americans were killed and 87 wounded, an American spokesman announced today. The bloodiest action took place in the central highlands about 19 miles west of Kontum, where a company from the Fourth Infantry Division came under a heavy mortar attack that listed five minutes. Then the enemy opened up “from all sides” with automatic weapons and small arms. The United States Command denied the American company was ambushed—terming the action a “meeting engagement."

Reopening Of Bars Urged

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON, April 16. Representatives of Saigon's dance hostesses and bar workers have asked South Vietnam’s Minister of Labour to reopen their establishments as part of a drive to aid war victims. Many of Saigon's bars, dance halls and tea rooms were closed after the Viet Cong attacked the capital in their Tet offensive last February. Trade union officials representing 4700 dance hostesses, waitresses, singer and bar workers told the Minister (Pho Ba Long) “The dance girls wish to return to their former jobs, partly to obtain money from foreigners to help South Vietnam's war victims. Moreover, if the dance halls are allowed to reopen, the Government will receive billions of piastres in taxes.” The girls are said earn up to 100,000 piastres (about SNZISOO) a month.