ATTACKS ON SRANG BEATEN OFF

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 13

ATTACKS ON SRANG BEATEN OFF

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

PHNOM PENH, September 6.

Communist forces last night renewed their attack against the district town of Srang but were beaten off by Cambodian defenders, supported by aircraft. The area, about 18 miles south of Phnom Penh, was reported quiet this morning.

Cambodian troops, meanwhile, were reported to have cornered a force of 600 Viet Cong at a mountain pass 27 miles south of Phnom Penh and near Srang. Srang has been the target of repeated Communist attacks this week. The Viet Cong force, which two Cambodian brigades were hopeful of blocking off in the valley south of Phnom Penh, had earlier occupied Srang. It is possible, however, that most of the Communists have already escaped over the steep, tree-clad hills out of the valley, in spite of Cambodian air and artillery strikes. A Government communique issued today said that the south-east provincial capital of Svay Rieng, near the South Vietnamese border, was hit by 10 enemy mortar rounds early today and the building of Sihanouk, founded by the Sngkum Political Party, destroyed. Tourist Gateway

No damage or casualties were reported. United Press International has reported that South Vietnamese rangers and armoured units fighting in Cambodia under the support of artillery and air strikes killed 27 Communist troops in heavy fighting yesterday, 75 miles northwest of Phnom Penh, according to military spokesmen. South Vietnamese casualties in the fighting two miles north-west of Krek were four killed and 16 wounded. In South Vietnam, Communist commandos hurling

: explosive charges overran and virtually destroyed a civildefence volunteer training ■ centre near the central coasi tai city of Qui Nhon, killing i 15 civilians and wounding 23 ■ others, military sources said. • Eight Americans were • wounded in a burst of fire • from Communist troops who • then fled into jungles 57 . miles north-east of Saigon, > the United States Command > reported. The Communists disappeared into the jungle when - the Americans radioed for ' help.

Another attack was also launched on a small community, six miles west of Svay Rieng. Two Cambodians were reported wounded and one of the attackers killed. Several mortar rounds fell late yesterday on Siem-Riep airfield in the north-west, which was the tourist gateway to the famed Angkor-Wat temple ruins until this year.