HELICOPTER ATTACKING VIET CONG POST; VILLAGE IN FLAMES; ALLIED TROOPS ADVANCING; JET DROPPING BOMBS.




Initials GEM/VS/JH/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE BIGGEST COMBINED ALLIED OPERATION OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM IS UNDERWAY IN BINH DINH, A COASTAL PROVINCE 300 MILES (483 KMS) NORTH-EAST OF SAIGON. THE PROVINCE IS A VIET CONG STRONGHOLD.

THE OPERATION, COD-NAMED "OPERATION MASHER", INVOLVES SOUTH VIETNAMESE, SOUTH KOREAN AND AMERICAN TROOPS.

THE GROUND FORCES ARE SUPPORTED BY U.S. AIR FORCE AND NAVY AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING GIANT B-52 BOMBERS AND ROCKET-FIRING HELICOPTER. THE AIR STRIKES HAVE ALREADY DESTROYED OR DAMAGED ABOUT 100 BUILDINGS.

A SPOKESMAN SAID THAT OPERATION MASHER HAS NETTED 700 VIET CONG DEAD, 180 CAPTURED AND 437 VIET CONG SUSPECTS DETAINED. THE ALLIED FORCE WAS SAID TO HAVE SUFFERED ONLY LIGHT CASUALTIES, ALTHOUGH THE U.S.S FIRST AIR CAVALRY, VETERANS OF LAST NOVEMBER'S BITTER FIGHTING IN THE IA DRANG VALLEY, WERE SAID TO HAVE BEEN MOR SERIOUSLY HIT.