MAP SHOWING SITE; HELICOPTERS AND SUPPLIES IN; ENGINEERS PUT DOWN RUNWAY AND WORKING ON ROAD.




Initials RGH/H-TELE/CR/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: UNITED STATES ENGINEERS ARE WORKING NON-STOP TO COMPLETE A NEW SUPPLY BASE "SITE-X" BEFORE NOVEMBER IST WHEN IT'S SCHEDULED TO START FEEDING FOOD AND ARMS TO MARINES AT CON THIEN AND OTHER BASES ALONG THE DEMILITARISED ZONE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH VIETNAM.

A MONTH AGO, "SITE X" WAS NOTHING BUT SAND AND CRAB GRASS. ITS WHEREABOUTS WAS KEPT SECRET FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BUT THE VIET CONG OPERATING IN THE AREA NOW KNOW ITS LOCATION, AND HAVE ATTACKED TWICE WITH MORTAR FIRE.

GRAVEYARDS WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE AREA AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE FAMILIES WERE GIVEN ONE WEEK TO MOVE 5.000 GRAVES.

MANY GRAVES MUST STILL BE REMOVED, IN ADDITION TO A VILLAGE RIGHT IN THE CENTRE OF THE NEW SUPPLY BASE ...

WORK ON THE BASE WILL BE COMPLETED IN LESS THAN SIX WEEKS FROM THE DAY WORK BEGAN. UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, A SIMILAR BASE WOULD TAKE FOUR MONTHS TO BUILD.

"SITE X" MUST BE OPERATIONAL BEFORE THE HEIGHT OF THE MONSOON OR RAINY SEASON, WHEN SUPPLYING FORWARD POSTS IN THE DEMILITARISED ZONE, LIKE CON THIEN, IS MOST DIFFICULT.