1.
LS (AERIAL VIEW) AREA OF WAR ZONE D
0.11

2.
MS AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN JUNGLE AT END OF OPERATION
0.21

3.
MS TROOPS TREK OUT OF JUNGLE (TWO SHOTS)
0.33

4.
MS BOOBY TRAP
0.35

5.
MS WIRELESS OPERATOR
0.42

6.
MS PLATOON COMMANDER DIRECTS TROOPS OUT OF JUNGLE
0.46

7.
CU VIETCONG GRAVE
0.48

8.
MS SOLDIER WITH CAPTURED VIETCONG GUITAR (TILT UP) TROOPS ACROSS PADDY FIELD
0.57

9.
LS TROOPS WALK ACROSS PADDY FIELD (TWO SHOTS)
1.02

10.
MS HELICOPTER PROVIDE PROTECTION (TILT DOWN) TROOPS TOWARDS PICK-UP POINT
1.07

11.
LS TROOPS TOWARDS POINT (FOREGROUND) HELICOPTERS IN FLIGHT
1.11

12.
MS TROOPS ON THE MARCH (FOUR SHOTS)
1.26

13.
CU LT. COL. BRUMFIELD
1.28

14.
LS SOLDIER BOARDS HELICOPTER
1.32

15.
MS MORE TROOPS BOARDING HELICOPTER
1.34

16.
MS COL. BRUMFIELD LOOKS ON AS HELICOPTERS TAKE OFF
1.50

17.
MS ANOTHER HELICOPTER TAKES OFF
1.54

18.
LS (AERIAL VIEW) OF WAR ZONE D
2.08

19.
MS (AERIAL VIEW) OF PADDY FIELDS AND VILLAGE (TWO SHOTS)
2.08



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: WHILE THE VIETNAM WAR CONTINUES, COMMUNIST NORTH VIETNAM'S PRESIDENT HO CHIN MINH AND A JUNIOR BRITISH MINISTER, MR. HAROLD DAVIS, ARE HOLDING TALKS ON THE COMMONWEALTH'S VIETNAM PEACE MISSION'S ??? VISIT THERE. MEANWHILE, A MIXED THRUST FORCE OF AMERICAN, AUSTRALIAN AND VIETNAMESE FORCES ENDED THEIR SEARCH AND DESTROY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE VIETCONG YESTERDAY (FRIDAY). THE OPERATIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN THE WAR ZONE D, ABOUT 35 MILES NORTH OF SAIGON.

WAR ZONE D IS BELIEVED TO CONCEAL ABOUT 8,000 VIETCONG REGULARS. IT COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT ONE THOUSAND SQUARE MILES AND IS LARGELY JUNGLE COUNTRY WITH SOME PADDY FIELDS AND SWAMP LANDS. DURING THE REIGN OF THE FRENCH IN VIETNAM, THIS ZONE WAS CONSIDERED THE STRONGHOLD OF THE VIET MINH AND THE FRENCH NEVER VENTURED THERE.

THE OPERATIONS BEGAN LAST TUESDAY IN BRIGADE STRENGTH. THE TROOPS WERE ASSISTED BY B-52 HEAVY BOMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND WHICH DROPPED MORE THAN 1,000 TONS OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES ON SUSPECTED COMMUNIST POSITIONS.

THE THREE-DAY OPERATION RESULTED IN 100 VIETCONG KILLED, AND ALLIED FORCES ABOUT A DOZEN DEAD AND 40 WOUNDED. ABOUT 1,800 ALLIED FORCES INVOLVED IN THE OPERATIONS ENCOUNTERED ONLY SNIPERS AND SMALL GROUPS OF VIETCONG.

THE AUSTRALIAN TROOPS, SWEEPING THROUGH THE AREA, UNCOVERED SEVERAL FOOD CACHES, CLOTHING AND OTHER SUPPLIES, INCLUDING A GUITAR AS THE TROOPS WALKED OUT OF THE JUNGLE AND THROUGH PADDY FIELDS TO A PICKUP POINT, ARMED HELICOPTERS SWEPT OVERHEAD TO GIVE ADDED PROTECTION.

AT THE PICK-UP POINT, THE TROOPS BOARDED HELICOPTERS WHICH TOOK THEM BACK TO THE STRATEGIC BIEN HOA AIRBASE. THE BIG AIR LIFT WAS WATCHED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL BRUMFIELD, COMMANDER OF THE AUSTRALIAN BATTALION.