1.
LS TROOPS IN POSITION
0.04

2.
LS CHOPPER WITH ARTILLERY SHELLS
0.08

3.
LS CHOPPER LANDS PAN TO FIELD GUN
0.19

4.
LS & MS FIELD GUNS FIRING (TWO SHOTS)
0.30

5.
LS CHOPPER ARRIVES WITH WOUNDED AMERICANS AND AUSTRALIANS (TWO SHOTS)
0.36

6.
MS SOLDIERS UNLOADING STRETCHES FROM JEEP
0.41

7.
LS & MS WOUNDED TAKEN FROM CHOPPER (TWO SHOTS)
0.59

8.
MS & CU WOUNDED BEING HELPED BY COLLEAGUES (TWO SHOTS)
1.09

9.
LS & MS WOUNDED BEING CARRIED ON STRETCHER (THREE SHOTS)
1.23



Initials CAR/VS/MK/YA/CHM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A COMBINED FORCE OF AMERICAN PARATROOPS AND AUSTRALIAN INFANTRYMEN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) RETURNED TO THEIR CAMP IN BIEN HOA AFTER SCORING ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST VICTORY OVER A 600-STRONG VIETCONG BATTALION, 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF SAIGON. THE BATTLE WHICH STARTED ON MONDAY ENDED YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) WITH 391 VIETCONG KILLED WHILE AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN FORCES SUFFERED MODERATE CASUALTIES.

THIS FILM SHOT ON THE BATTLE FRONT, SHOWS THE COMBINED FORCES ARTILLERY POUNDING SHELLS ON THE VIETCONG POSITIONS. IN ALL 900 SHELLS WERE FIRED. CLOSE AIR SUPPORT AND MORTARS WERE ALSO USED TO DISLODGE THE VIETCONG FROM THEIR DUG-IN POSITIONS. THE VIETCONG WERE ARMED WITH 30 AND 50 CALIBRE MACHINEGUNS.

THE COMBINED FORCE CONSISTED OF MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES 173RD AIRBORNE BRIGADE AND THE FIRST BATTALION, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT. YESTERDAY, THEY SWEPT TROUGH THE BATTLE AREA -- ABOUT A SQUARE MILE OF DENSE JUNGLE -- FOR BODIES AND WEAPONS. THEY ENCOUNTERED SOME SPORADIC SNIPER FIRE BUT MET NO SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION.

INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE VIETCONG WAS MADE AT 8 O'CLOCK ON MONDAY MORNING WHEN AN AMERICAN PARATROOP COMPANY WAS PROBING AN ABANDONED VILLAGE. THE COMPANY BECAME HEAVILY ENGAGED AT CLOSE RANGE. TWO ADDITIONAL COMPANIES AND AN AUSTRALIAN BATTALION WERE MOVED IN. SOME 30 AIR SORTIES WERE FLOWN IN SUPPORT OF THE GROUND ACTIONS.

MEANWHILE, TROOPS WOUNDED IN THE ENGAGEMENT WERE TRANSPORTED OUT OF THE AREA IN ARMED HELICOPTERS TO THE BIEN HOA CAMP. THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY PLACED ON STRETCHERS AND RUSHED TO THE CAMP HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.