1.
Wrecked bridge (5 shots)
0.16

2.
Stalled truck convoys (2 shots)
0.24

3.
Truck crews camp beneath their vehicles
0.35

4.
Officer calls for aid on radio
0.38

5.
Launching assault boats (4 shots)
0.56

6.
Rowing across river in canoes past bridge
1.09

7.
Gunboat on river
1.12


WRECKED BRIDGE: CREWS CAMPING UNDER VEHICLES: ASSAULT BOATS FERRYING SUPPLIES AND GUNBOATS GUARDING RIVER.




Initials BB/1224 CM/MR/BB/1233



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Khmer army's faltering drive up Highway Six was brought to a complete halt on October 27th, after Communist sappers blew up a bridge near the town of Romlong, about 50 miles (80.5 metres) north of Phnom Penh.

The Khmer army has already been meeting stiff resistance further north in their drive to reach cities cut off since last year by Communist troops.

SYNOPSIS: Communist sappers blew up a large road bridge on October 27th, in the Khmer Republic, and brought the Khmer army's faltering drive northward along Highway Six to a complete halt. The sappers apparently swam up to the bridge in the darkness, and fixed limpet mines to two of the piers. The two spans fall into the river.

Military operations northwards up Highway Six were immediately brought to a halt. The Khmer army had already been meeting stiff resistance further north in their drive to reach some of the beleaguered cities cut off since last year by Communist troops. At the same time, pressure began to mount in the ares of the bridge, which lies near the town of Romlong, about 50 miles north of Phnom Penh, Assault boats were brought up to help ferry supplies, while crews for the lines of stranded trucks waited by their vehicles.

Gunboats were called in to guard the river.