CAMP WITH DEFENCES; AIRCRAFT ON BOMBING RUNS; DAMAGED BUILDINGS FIRE BEING RETURNED FROM CAMP; DEAD SOLDIERS; MONTAGNARDS WORKING ON DEFENCES.




Initials TS/VS/JF/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FOR THE PAST FOUR WEEKS, UNITED STATES SPECIAL FORCES HAVE BEEN UNDER SIEGE AND ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES MILITARY COMMAND IN SAIGON, NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO CAPTURE THE CAMP WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. UNITED STATES MILITARY AUTHORITIES CLAIM THAT 1,200 NORTH VIETNAMESE HAVE DIED TRYING TO TAKE THE CAMP, IN THE SOUTHWESTERN RIM OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEAR THE CAMBODIAN BORDER.

THE CAMP IS DEFENDED BY THE US SPECIAL FORCES WITH SOUTH VIETNAMESE SPECIAL FORCES TROOPS AND MONTAGNARD TRIBESMEN. THE MONTAGNARDS HAVE THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN WITH THEM IN THE CAMP, AND THEY TOO HELP IN THE DEFENCE OF BU PRANG.

AN ESTIMATED 5-THOUSAND NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS ARE BELIEVED TO BE MISSING IN THE AREA AROUND THE CAMP, WHICH STRADDLES SUPPLY ROUTES REGARDED AS VITAL FOR THE NORTH VIETNAMESE SPRING-WINTER CAMPAIGN.

NORTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS, CAPTURED ON SORTIES OUT OF THE CAMP IN THE SURROUNDING JUNGLE, ARE SAID TO HAVE TOLD THEIR INTERROGATORS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO OVERRUN THE BASE.