MR HUMPHREY ARRIVING AT BIEN HOA BY HELICOPTER, INSPECTING A HOSPITAL, AND WATCHING A DISPLAY OF KARATE.




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Background: MR HUBERT HUMPHREY, THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) VISITED BIEN HOA BASE, ABOUT 15 MILE (24 KMS) NORTH OF SAIGON. THERE HE TALKED WITH SERVICEMEN FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND - AND INSPECTED A MILITARY HOSPITAL. AFTERWARDS HE WAS TREATED TO A DISPLAY OF KARATE BY SOLDIERS FROM THE SOUTH KOREAN CONTINGENT FIGHTING IN VIETNAM.

THIS WAS MR HUMPHREY'S FIRST VISIT TO AMERICAN SERVICEMEN SINCE HIS ARRIVAL IN SAIGON ON THURSDAY. THE BASE IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNITED STATES FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION. THE AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT'S FIRST BATTALION AND A NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY BATTERY ARE ALSO STATIONED THERE.

IN AN ADDRESS TO TROOPS AT THE BASE MR HUMPHREY SAID: "WE ARE NOT HERE MERELY TO WIN A WAR ON THE BATTLEFIELD. WE ALSO BATTLE TODAY AGAINST MAN'S MOST ANCIENT ENEMIES - POVERTY, ILLITERACY, INJUSTICE, AND DISEASE."
"WE ARE WAGING A WAR ON TWO FRONTS - AND WE ARE GOING TO WIN ON BOTH OF THEM."
AFTER VISITING THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE SPOKE TO INJURED SERVICEMEN, HE WENT ON TO THE SOUTH KOREAN CAMP NEAR SAIGON. THERE HE WATCHED SOLDIERS USING KARATE TO BREAK BRICKS, PLANKS OF WOOD AND ROCKS WITH THEIR BARE HANDS AND FEET.

BEFORE FLYING OUT OF SAIGON TODAY (SUNDAY) ON HIS WAY TO BANGKOK IN THAILAND, MR HUMPHREY SAID THAT SOUTH VIETNAM NEEDED THE HELP OF OTHERS BOTH ON THE MILITARY AND CIVIL DEVELOPMENT FRONTS. "WHETHER IT IS ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR IN THE STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL REFORMS, IT IS ACCOMPLISHMENT AND RESULTS THAT WILL CONVINCE THE PEOPLE OF VIETNAM THAT THE FREE ALTERNATIVE IS PREFERABLE TO THE COMMUNIST", HE SAID.