BOTH SIDES REINFORCED

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33066, 6 November 1972, Page 17

BOTH SIDES REINFORCED

tN.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) The United States, helped by three of her allies, is making a great effort to build up the South Vietnamese Air Force into one of the world’s strongest, while North Vietnam is expediting the delivery of tanks, artillery, and ammunition to her forces in the South.

Among the aircraft being sent to South Vietnam are supersonic FSA fighters from the Air Forces of Iran, South Korea, and Taiwan, and more Hercules transport aircraft from the United States.

According to Washington sources, only replacements of worn-out or damaged equipment would be allowed to the two sides after a cease-fire agreement. HEAVIEST U.S. RAIDS

United States Stratofortress bombers have pounded Communist positions in both North and South Vietnam, and both sides are fighting fiercely on the ground throughout the South, apparently in the struggle for territorial advantage before a cease-fire. The United States Command in Saigon said today that 13 missions of the bombers dropped 2000 tons of bombs on North Vietnam in a 24-hour period ending yesterday, matching the oneday record for bombing missions over the North. Later in the day, the Stratofortresses flew nine more missions over the North and struck 22 times in South Vietnam. including bombing suspected Communist troop concentrations 23 to 47 miles north-west of Saigon last night.

More than 100 land battles were reported from all sections of South Vietnam during the 24-hour period ended at 6 a.m. today. Military spokesmen said that 270 Communists and 50 Government soldiers died and 136 South Vietnamese were wounded.