1.
GTV Aircraft carrier
0.10

2.
SV Radar scanners on carrier
0.13

3.
SV PAN Jets take off from carrier (2 shots)
0.22

4.
GV Saigon street scene
0.27

5.
LV & SV Police & troops (2 shots)
0.37

6.
GV & SV Artillery fire (3 shots)
1.04

7.
LV Shells landing
1.07

8.
GV Damage area (2 shots)
1.15

9.
CU Road mine
1.17

10.
GV PAN Damage area
1.31


"Midway" carrier; jets taking off; Saigon street scene - police and troops on roadside; heavy South Vietnamese artillery on Highway 13; roadmines lifted; village wreckage.




Initials SGM/0029 SGM/0057


SATELLITE/TELERECORDING
This telerecording, with natural sound throughout, was estellited to London from Hongkong.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Bitter fighting for control of the provincial capital of An Loc - 56 miles (90 kms) north of Saigon - reached a new peak Thursday (May 11) with a massive Communist bombardment- in which more than seven thousand mortar rounds, rockets and artillery shells were friend at the devastated city - and fierce hand-to-hand fighting took place in city streets.

South Vietnamese spokesman said ten North Vietnamese tanks were destroyed in the city, and the commander of one North Vietnamese regiment surrender to Government troops, with nine other soldiers.

The An Loc area has been bitterly contested since the start of the North Vietnamese offensive six weeks ago, and both sides have claimed control of the city.

The new fighting and??? a period of consolidation by both Communist and Government forces around An Loc.

South Vietnamese forces meanwhile continued their drive up Highway 13 - shown in this film - in an attempt to relieve the beleaguered city, as U.S. aircraft from the carrier Midway also bombed Communist positions.

the whole of South Vietnam came under martial law at midnight (May 10/11) following a request for emergency powers from President Thieu; the Government has ordered all 18-year-old youths to report for military service.

SYNOPSIS: The United States carrier "Midway" - off the coast of Vietnam - fought on two fronts on Wednesday. The carrier, a member of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, was taking part in the blockade of North Vietnamese ports ordered on Monday. Its aircraft meanwhile, were also bombing Communist positions around Al Loc, only fifty-six miles north of Saigon.

In the South Vietnamese capital President Thieu's proclamation of martial law has brought the current Communist offensive more clearly into focus.All eighteen-year-old youths must report for military service; universities are closed....
North of Saigon, on Highway Thirteen, Government forces continued their attempt to break through Communist positions and relieve the defenders of An Loc. The provincial capital has been the centre of biter fighting since the Communist offensive started six weeks ago, but the Communist assault reached a new intensity Thursday with a massive mortar, rocket and artillery bombardment, and fierce hand-to-hand fighting in the city streets.