VIETNAM U.S. ’Copters Shot Down

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 15

VIETNAM U.S. ’Copters Shot Down

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

SAIGON, August 21.

North Vietnamese troops shot down nine American helicopters below the Demilitarised Zone, and damaged nine others in flight in a new wave of attacks in the Mekong Delta yesterday, according to United States military spokesmen in Saigon.

The helicopters shot down had been taking part in a cordon operation by units of the United States Ist Air Cavalry Division round an estimated 200 enemy soldiers six miles north-east of the provincial capital city of Quang Tri. All nine were later recovered.

Thirteen North Vietnamese soldiers and three Americans were killed and 15 wounded in the action, the spokesman said.

The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese launched a new wave of attacks throughout the Mekong Delta early today, and the United States Command describes at least 15 of them, mostly mortar shellings, as “harassing.”

Four Government soldiers were killed, and 25 Americans, including five advisers, were wounded. In addition, seven civilians were killed and 20 wounded. The military spokesmen said that such attacks were common when the enemy was manoeuvring into position for a major assault ' Allied spokesmen said yes-

terday that the enemy had lost 739 dead during three days of savage fighting along the Cambodian border, in the Central Highlands and in the northern provinces of South Vietnam.

Although fighting had apparently virtually stopped on the Tay Ninh front, 45 miles north-west of Saigon, large Communist units still were ranged round the provincial capital, part of which was seized by Communist troops on Sunday and held for more than 30 hours Strikes by Stratofortress bombers were directed to areas round Tay Ninh late yesterday and early today, all aimed at troop concentrations.

The new attacks, coming so soon after the assaults on Tay Ninh, have led to renewed speculation that the Viet Cong may have launched their long-predicted thirdwave offensive. But both American and South Vietnamese commanders will not go beyond stating that the guerrillas have ended the lull in the war that has lasted two months. A South Vietnamese military spokesman says the Viet Cong smashed one span of the Anhuu Bridge, 61 miles south-west of Saigon, with a mine this morning. The bridge is one of the main links between Saigon and the Mekong Delta.