1.
LS ROCKET-CARRYING HELICOPTER OVER MEKONG DELTA
0.06

2.
MS SOLDIER WITH MACHINEGUN LOOKS DOWN ON DELTA FROM HELICOPTER
0.10

3.
MS (TRACK) HAMLETS IN HUNG HOI (2 SHOTS)
0.23

4.
MS VILLAGE CHILDREN (PAN) GOVERNMENT TROOPS
0.31

5.
MLS TROOPS
0.35

6.
MS HAMLET ACTION TEAM WITH MACHETES, SPEARS AND RIFLES (2 SHOTS)
0.45

7.
MLS (PAN) SOLDIERS AND ARMY VEHICLES
0.56

8.
MS VEHICLES MOVE OFF (2 SHOTS)
1.05

9.
LS (TRACK) HAMLETS
1.08

10.
MS COCONUT PALMS (TILT DOWN) CAI SON VILLAGERS
1.17

11.
MS (PAN) CROWD SURROUND CAPTAIN DAVIS AND DR. NGOC
1.21

12.
MS CROWD (PAN) CAPTAIN DAVIS ADDRESSING
1.30

13.
CU SMALL GIRL LOOKS ON
1.31

14.
MS CAPTAIN DAVIS HANDS MEDICINE SUPPLIES TO DR. NGOC
1.34

15.
MS DR. NGOC DISTRIBUTES MEDICINE TO VILLAGE ELDERS (2 SHOTS)
1.44

16.
MLS (PAN) CROWD AT DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICINE
1.52



Initials PC/V/MGT/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TROOPS ARE USING ROCKET-CARRYING HELICOPTERS FOR PATROL OVER HAMLETS IN THE MEKONG DELTA. ANY MOVEMENTS OF VIETCONG GUERRILLA FORCES IN THE AREA ARE QUICKLY RELAYED BACK TO MILITARY VEHICLES MANNED BY MORE GOVERNMENT TROOPS AROUND THE HAMLETS. SEVERAL VIETCONG UNITES HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED BY THIS METHOD.

LAST TUESDAY, THE GOVERNMENT RUSHED TROOPS AND ARMOURED VEHICLES TO THE VILLAGE OF HUNG HOI ON THE DELTA FOLLOWING REPORTS OF A VIETCONG PLAN TO LAUNCH AN ATTACK.

THE VILLAGE, WITH 12 HAMLETS AND ABOUT 8,000 PEOPLE, WAS ALERTED AND THE HAMLET 'ACTION TEAM', CONSISTING OF THE ABLE-BODIED MEN, ARMED THEMSELVES WITH MACHETES, SPEAR AND ANTIQUATED RIFLES. WHEN GOVERNMENT TROOPS ARRIVED IN THE VILLAGE, THE ACTION TEAM JOINED THEM IN THEIR HUNT FOR THE VIETCONG.

ABOUT SEVEN BATTALIONS OF VIETCONG ARE LOCATED IN THE MEKONG DELTA. ONLY SIX PER CENT OF THE AREA IS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL; THIRTY PERCENT IS CONTESTED AND THE REST IS CONTROLLED BY THE VIETCONG.

IN CAI SON -- ANOTHER VILLAGE ON THE MEKONG DELTA -- THE VILLAGERS WERE GIVEN FREE MEDICAL SUPPLIES BY CAPTAIN KENNETH DAVIS, A MEDICAL ADVISER WITH THE NINTH AMERICAN MILITARY DIVISION STATIONED IN SOUTH VIETNAM. THE MEDICINE WAS DONATED BY MRS. BARBARA SPRUILL OF NEW YORK, WHOSE HUSBAND, CAPTAIN JAMES SPRUILL, AN AMERICAN MILITARY ADVISER TO THE REGIONAL FORCE AT CAI SON, WAS KILLED BY A VIETCONG MINE WHILE HELPING THE VILLAGERS.

(IT WAS REPORTED TODAY (FRIDAY) FROM SOUTH VIETNAM THAT THREE AMERICAN OFFICERS AND AN N.C.O. HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ONE OF THE FIERCEST CLASHES SO FAR IN THE FIGHT AGAINST VIET CONG GUERRILLAS. ABOUT SIXTY SOUTH VIETNAM SOLDIERS WERE KILLED, AND SPOKESMEN DESCRIBE VIET CONG LOSSES AS "HEAVY".)