MAYOR SAIGON, COLONEL DO KIEN NHIEU, SALUTING CROWD OF YOUTHS WITH FLAGS; MAYOR SHAKING HANDS WITH OLD MAN; ARMED CIVILIAN; MARCH-PAST; YOUNG NURSES DEMONSTRATING FIRST-AID; GIRL WITH RIFLE; MAYOR WATCHING.




Initials RM/VS/JH/PC



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Background: ABOUT 10,000 MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE SELF-DEFENCE CORPS HELD A RALLY IN SAIGON YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) AS ONE OF A SERIES OF "DEMONSTRATIONS OF UNITY". MANY OF THE YOUTHS PRESENT WERE AGED ONLY FROM 13 TO 16, WHILE APART FROM SOME OLD MEN THE REMAINDER WERE UNDER 18 - THE DRAFT AGE.

THE RALLY WAS ATTENDED BY THE MAYOR OF SAIGON, COLONEL DO KIEN NHIEU. IN ADDITION TO THE YOUNG GIRLS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE FIGHTING SECTION OF THE CORPS, THE RALLY ALSO INCLUDED A GROUP OF YOUNG GIRLS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN GIVING FIRST-AID - A SKILL THEY DEMONSTRATED FOR THE MAYOR.

SOME HAVE QUESTIONED THE WISDOM OF ARMING SO MANY YOUNG MEN WITHIN THE CAPITAL BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF INFILTRATION BY THE VIET CONG. HOWEVER, SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN NO DISADVANTAGEOUS RESULTS.