Big Offensive In Cambodia Feared

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 13

Big Offensive In Cambodia Feared

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) PHNOM PENH, July 9. North Vietnamese and Viet Gong are closing in on a circle of strategic towns round the Cambodian capital and fears are mounting in Phnom Penh of a major offensive in the next few weeks. The brunt of the Communist build-up is round the besieged provincial capital of Kompong Thom, 78 miles north of Phnom Penh. Army spokesmen say that the town is facing the biggest enemy concentrations in Cambodia.

Military sources say that the North Vietnamese and their guerrilla allies are still moving in reinforcements and, with the area to the north of the town already in their hands, are biding their time for a big thrust

Kompong Thom, on the main road between Phnom Penh and the tourist resort of Siem Reap, was the scene of fierce fighting last month and last week when American planes helped South Vietnamese and Cambodian aircraft beat off Communist attacks. Only a light Communist mortar barrage yesterday has broken a two-day lull in the area and, according to the sources, two Government battalions are still holding the town. Before Rains The latest build-up was seen as a sign that a big Communist push might be launched before the onset of heavy monsoon rains in the next few weeks. Other towns and targets

already threatened and likely to get caught up in any offensive include: Saang, 23 miles south of Phnom Penh. Occupied for five days in April and the scene of more fighting in June and again at the beginning of this week. Latest reports say that there are at least 1000 Viet Cong poised on its outskirts. Kompong Speu, the provincial capital. 25 miles south-west of Phnom Penh which controls the vital road to the deep water seaport of Kompong Som. About 600 Khmer rouges (red Cambodians) are reported to have been seen in the area. Siem Reap, north-west of the capital and near the ancient temple ruins of Angkor Wat infiltrated by Communist forces in June. The town was hit by a mortar barrage earlier this month. Neak Leung, the strategic

Mekong River ferry area 29 miles south-east of Phnom Penh. Several United States Phantom fighter - bombers made low passes over Phnom Penh yesterday but there were no reports of any action by the planes in the vicinity of the capital. But both Cambodian and South Vietnamese planes are believed to be in continuous action against Viet Cong forces near the port of Kom pong Som. 30 miles from Phnom Penh and along other infiltration routes further to the north and east. The Associated Press reported that a military spokesman said today that Viet Cong units had put on civilian clothes and were remaining inside the historic Angkor ruins complex. Major Am Rong told reporters that the Viet Cong had also kidnapped local villagers to keep with them to make their appearance in the ruins appear more natural. No Control “We don’t have any control in that area,” the spokesman said in response to questions. He added that “it was not necessary for Cambodian officers to enter the ruins to investigate because they get their information from villagers.” The spokesman also said: “We don’t want to provoke any attack which might damage the temples." The new Cambodian Government of Generol Lon Nol has moved to increase training of troops. Thousands of girls who have been called up under national mobilisation are also undergoing rigorous training. Several Cambodian battalions have been shipped to South Vietnam to begin a 12-week training cycle. The Government hopes to put 10,000 Cambodian troops through the cycle by the year’s end.

Four Vietnamese civilians were killed and five wounded when guerrillas hurled a home-made bomb into a refugee settlement near Phy My district town in central Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam, early today. A Government spokesman said that five huts were destroyed in the settlement, about 280 miles north-east of Saigon. Viet Cong shelled an American position in the Cambod-

ian border province of Tay Ninh last night, but caused only light casualties with no fatalities and no damage, the United States command said. A United States infantry night camp about 35 miles north-west of Saigon, was hit by about five rounds of high explosive shortly before midnight and again by a few more rounds early today. 852 bombers hit three guerrilla targets, two in northern Thua Thien province in the area of the A Shau Valley and close to the Laotian border, and in Phuoc Long Province near the Cambodian border to the north of Saigon.