WITHIN A WEEK OF THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES BLOODIEST BATTLE IN SOUTH VIETNAM MEMBERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN SIXTH BATTALION WERE RELAXING IN THE RESORT OF VUNG TAU, FORTY MILES FROM SAIGON.

ON AUGUST 18, IN A THREE-HOUR BATTLE WITH THE VIET CONG IN BA RIA, THE AUSTRALIANS KILLED 238 OPPOSING TROOPS AND WOUNDED HUNDREDS MORE. THE AUSTRALIANS WERE VASTLY OUTNUMBERED, AND THEIR LOSSES TOTALLED 17.

THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES CAPTURED A QUANTITY OF ARMS AND THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS AMMUNITION.

THE TROOPS WERE DEBRIEFED BY SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OFFICERS, AND THE FOLLOWING DAY TRAVELLED TO VUNG TAU FOR POST-BATTLE LEAVE.

SYNOPSIS A POST-BATTLE DEBRIEFING FOR AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN SAIGON. ONLY FIVE DAYS EARLIER THEY HAD BEEN ENGAGED IN THEIR BLOODIEST CONFLICT WITH VIET CONG FORCES IN SOUTH VIETNAM. IN A THREEHOUR BATTLE THE OUTNUMBERED AUSTRALIANS KILLED 238 VIET CONG. AUSTRALIAN LOSSES TOTALLED SEVENTEEN DEAD.

TROPHIES OF WAR...THE AUSTRALIANS ALSO CAPTURED A QUANTITY OF ARMS AND THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION. THE TROOPS TAKING PART WERE MEN OF THE AUSTRALIAN SIXTH BATTALION.

AFTER DEBRIEFING THE TROOPS TRAVELLED TO THE RESORT OF VUNG TAU FOR LEAVE...A WELCOME RELIEF FROM THE HARDSHIPS OF COMBAT.

AUSTRALIA HAS SEVERAL THOUSAND TROOPS IN VIETNAM. THE BA RIA BATTLE WAS THE FIRST LARGESCALE ENGAGEMENT IN WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

A FEW DAYS REST, AND THEN IT WILL BE BACK TO THE WAR ZONE FOR THESE MEN.