The South Vietnamese High Command announced Tuesday (14 March) a big new military operation around Saigon and into Khmer Republic, and reported a four-hour battle just across the frontier. The communique said 11 North Vietnamese were killed in the fighting, north of Kampong Trach, about six miles (16 kms) into the Khmer Republic. Two Government soldiers were killed and 16 wounded. The battle follows the opening of a third front against a reported Communist buildup along South Vietnam's western borders. The other two thrusts are in the far northwest of South Vietnam, below the Demilitarised Zone, and in the western Central Highlands. An estimated 100-thousand men are involved in the operations.

SYNOPSIS: After sweeping the East of the Khmer Republic for three days without major contact with the enemy, South Vietnamese troops Sunday engaged Communist forces northwest of Kampong Trach, about six miles inside the Republic. The enemy w??? estimated at company size, and fighting lasted more than four hours.

Prisoners were blindfolded and brought i??? for questioning. The battle was the firs significant fighting in the area since the South Vietnamese crossed the border into the Republic last Friday. On that first day American bombers destroyed a bunker complex just across the border, a on Saturday a Vietcong Sapper squad was wiped out near Tay Ninh, a large south-Vietnamese city also near the border. In the fighting at Kampong Tach the South Vietnamese High Command claimed eleven North Vietnam??? killed; Government casualties were put at two d???d and 16 wounded.

A quantity of weapons and ammunition were also seized....Nine-thousand South Vietnamese troops were sent into the Khmer Republic in the thrust, and military sources said reinforcements would be add Monday.

The drive was ordered to smash a reporte??? Communist buildup along South Vietnam's western borders. Two other fronts have the same objective: one in the far north west of South Vietnam; the other in the western Central Highlands. One-hundred-thousand men are estimated taking part i??? the actions.