1.
LV HELICOPTERS SWEEP THE BEACH AND COUNTRYSIDE.
0.05

2.
SV PAN TROOPS MAN DEFENSIVE PERIMETER (2 SHOTS).
0.13

3.
SV FLAG TILT DOWN LANDING CRAFT TOWARDS BEACH.
0.16

4.
SV VIETNAMESE GIRLS WITH GARLANDS ON BEACH.
0.19

5.
LV THREE MARINES WADE THROUGH WATER.
0.21

6.
SV GIRLS GARLAND MARINES AS THEY COME ASHORE.
0.27

7.
SV GARLANDING.
0.30

8.
SV TANK ASHORE.
0.33

9.
SV MORE MARINES ASHORE.
0.42

10.
SV MORE GARLANDING
0.45

11.
SV ANOTHER TANK ASHORE.
0.54



Initials RM/V/JH/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: STRICT SECURITY MEASURES WERE TAKEN IN SOUTH VIETNAM'S QUANG TIN PROVINCE ON FRIDAY AS MARINES SWARMED ASHORE AT CHU LAI BEACH TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE BUILDING OF A JET AIRFIELD AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE, ABOUT 80 MILES (130 KILOMETRES) SOUTH OF THE STRATEGIC DA NANG AIR BASE. VIETNAMESE GIRLS RUSHED TO GARLAND THE FIRST MARINES ASHORE.

THE EXTRAORDINARY SECURITY PRECAUTIONS WERE PROMPTED BY REPORTS THAT A VIET CONG BATTALION HAD MOVED INTO THE AREA OF THE BEACH-HEAD A FEW DAYS PREVIOUSLY. THE VIET CONG HAVE LONG DOMINATED QUANG TIN PROVINCE, WHICH INCLUDES MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS.

THE MARINES WERE PART OF A FORCE OF ABOUT 3,500 MEN WHO WILL GUARD THE AIRFIELD CONSTRUCTION. THEIR DEFENSIVE PERIMETER IS EXPECTED TO REACH INTO THE FOOTHILLS OF THE MOUNTAIN CHAIN THAT RUNS DOWN TO WITHIN SIX MILES OF THE COAST.

UNITED STATES ADVISERS IN QUANG TIN PROVINCE ESTIMATE THERE ARE BETWEEN 12,000 AND 13,000 VIET CONG MASSED IN THE PROVINCE, MOST OF THEM ORGANISED INTO REGULAR UNITS. THIS MATCHES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT TROOPS IN QUANG TIN.