1.
GV PAN Bomb-damaged buildings (5 shots)
0.24

2.
SV Car beneath rubble
0.28

3.
SV & CU People looking at part of bomb (2 shots)
0.34

4.
LV Gateway to hospital
0.37

5.
SV PAN Hospital INT beds TO debris & broken windows (2 shots)
0.53

6.
CU PAN FROM Broken light above operating table TO broken cart
0.58

7.
CU Blood stain floor
1.01

8.
GV Rubble
1.04


Bomb-damaged buildings; people looking at part of bomb; hospital entrance; hospital beds and debris; broken operating light; damaged cart; bloodstain shelter floor; rubble.




Initials SGM/1249 SGM/1203



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Soviet-Vietnam Friendship Hospital in Hanoi was said to be among the buildings hit in an American air raid on the North Vietnamese capital on May 10, according to this official film released by the North Vietnamese news agency. The May 10 attacks on Hanoi and Haiphong port were the heaviest to date against what were described by the Americans as transport, fuel and storage areas and were carried out by aircraft of the U.S. Seventh Fleet.

According to the North Vietnamese news agency, the hospital was damaged in the raid, and windows and lights were broken. A cart for moving patients was also destroyed in the raid and the explosions scattered rubble among the beds in the wards. Bombs were also said to have injured people in shelters.

A number of houses were also hit in the attack, the agency said. Some people examined part of a wrecked bomb after the raid.

The American Command said that the raids were made "in pursuance of orders to reduce to the maximum extent possible the flow of military supplies and support of the massive communist invasion across the demilitarized zone".

There has been no sign of any let-up in the bombing since the May 10th attack. American aircraft have been bombing North Vietnam's communications road and rail networks, fuel pipelines and military storage areas in a continued effort to halt the flow of supplies to North Vietnamese troops engaged in the offensive in the south.

And it was reported on Friday (19 May) that three East European freighters were diverted to Hong Kong from the mined port of Haiphong and are apparently awaiting the lifting of the American blockade.

SYNOPSIS: This film from the North Vietnamese news agency shows houses said to have been wrecked in an American air raid against Hanoi on May 10th. The attacks against the North Vietnamese capital and Haiphong port were the heaviest to date against what were described by the Americans as transport, fuel and storage areas. The raids were carried out by 'planes from the U.S. Seventh Fleet, at sea off the Vietnamese coasting. After the raid people examined parts of the bombs themselves.

The Soviet-Vietnamese Friendship Hospital was also said to have been hit in the raid. Windows were broken by blasts and debris was strewn among the beds in the wards. The American Command said the raids were carried out in an effort to cut the flow of supplies to communist troops engaged in the offensive in South Vietnam.

Not everyone in shelters got away unscathed.

And the American raids have apparently been continuing.