1.
LV REFUGEES RUNNING, FIRE IN BACKGROUND
0.09

2.
GV FIRE
0.10

3.
LV FIRE AND REFUGEES
0.13

4.
CU MAN CARRIES CHILD
0.17

5.
SV WOMAN CARRIES INJURED CHILD
0.23

6.
SV WOUNDED CARRIED ON STRETCHER
0.31

7.
SV FAMILY WITH INJURED IN TRISHAW
0.37

8.
SV DEAD BODIES (2 SHOTS)
0.42

9.
LV SOUTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS ON BUILDING
0.51

10.
LV ARMOURED CAR POURS MACHINE GUN FIRE INTO BUILDING
0.59

11.
SV TROOPS TAKE COVER
1.04

12.
LV & CU REFUGEES CAMPED ON PAVEMENT (2 SHOTS)
1.17



Initials DHC/VS/MR/SS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE RECENT TIDE OF FIGHTING IN SAIGON HAS THROWN UP THE USUAL WAVE OF REFUGEES -- THIS TIME, SOME 46,000 OF THEM. DISPOSSESSED MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE CAMPING IN THE STREET OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE CAPITAL, OR CROWDING INTO EMERGENCY REFUGEE CENTRES.

THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO SPEND NIGHTS IN THE STREET, BESIDES PILES OF UNCOLLECTED RUBBISH. MANY HAVE ONLY THE POSSESSIONS THEY WERE ABLE TO SALVAGE DURING THE FIGHTING. OTHERS -- MORE FORTUNATE -- WILL FIND A PLACE IN THE 20 MAKESHIFT REFUGEE CAMPS SET ASIDE BY THE GOVERNMENT.

DURING THE OFFENSIVE AMERICAN AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS CLAIMED TO HAVE KILLED 1250 VIET CONG. AMERICAN CASUALTIES WERE GIVEN AS 44 KILLED AND 175 WOUNDED, AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE RECORDED 73 KILLED AND 267 WOUNDED.

SOUTH VIETNAMESE PRESIDENT NGUYEN VAN THIEU HAS CLAIMED THE VIET CONG CAN NEVER TAKE SAIGON, AND HAS URGED THE UNITED STATES NOT TO ACCEPT BILATERAL PEACE TERMS WITH HANOI.