1.
SV Troops carrying wounded man to helicopter
0.10

2.
SV Other wounded carried
0.14

3.
SV Troops in bunker
0.18

4.
SV Artillery explosion & troops run for cover (2 shots)
0.27

5.
SV Soldiers in ruined house (2 shots)
0.37

6.
SV Explosion near house
0.38

7.
SV Soldier walks through ruin (2 shots)
0.50

8.
SV Captured tank out of crater
0.53

9.
SV Bodies on highway & troops past (2 shots)
1.07

10.
LV Supplies parachuted
1.14

11.
SV Refugees on read with belongings (2 shots)
1.23



Initials SGM/2355 SGM 0013



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: North Vietnamese troops have increased their action against an Loc as more South Vietnamese forces move in to strengthen defences against the two-month old Communist siege of the Provincial capital 56 miles (90 kms) north of Saigon.

Helicopters carrying South Vietnamese troops are now making regular flights into the town, despite the anti-aircraft and small arms fire from North Vietnamese forces entrenched along Highway 13 and around the town.

As the fresh troops are unloaded, the helicopters load up with wounded soldiers to be evacuated to safety.

Visnews cameraman Tran Huu Trong, the first newsman inside the besieged An Loc, said there was little left of the town after more than two months of continuous shelling, rocketing and house-to-house fighting.

Some North Vietnamese tanks remain wrecked where they were hit but others are still in working order.

With the road back to Saigon still blocked, the relief column can only be supplied by helicopter or by parachute drops. Although some of the supplies fall into North Vietnamese hands, the besieged forces are becoming better equipped again.

More than 10,000 civilians have escaped from An Loc, but according to official figures, at least 3,000 civilians are dead, wounded or missing.

SYNOPSIS: South Vietnamese troops carry an injured companion to the safety of a helicopter as the siege against An Loc goes into its seventy-first day. Helicopters carrying South Vietnamese troops are now making regular flights into the town, despite increased action by North Vietnamese troops encircling the provincial capital 56 miles north of Saigon.

Visnews cameraman Tran Huu Trong, the first newsman inside the besieged town, said there was little left of An Loc after more than two months of continuous shelling, rocketing and house-to-house fighting. Thousands of rounds of artillery fire have fallen on the houses and streets of the town, and air strikes have still not silenced all the North Vietnamese guns.

Many North Vietnamese tanks were wrecked in the drive on An Loc, but some are still in working order.

With the read back to Saigon still blocked, relief supplies can only come by helicopter or parachute drops. More than 10,000 civilians have escaped from An Loc, but official figures put the dead, wounded or missing at 3,000.