1.
Artillery firing (11 shots)
30 ft

2.
Troops across open ground (3 shots)
40 ft

3.
Troops searching civilians on road
58 ft



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: South Vietnamese forces stepped up their operations in Tay Ninh province earlier this week (15 January) to safeguard supply routes in case of a Tet offensive.

The troops were working closely with Regional forces from the area. An artillery barrage was laid down to soften resistance in the area before the troops moved out on foot in a sweeping operation.

The Ninh, close to the border area with the Khmer Republic, has been recording communist troop movements in the last week. The area has traditionally been a trouble spot during the Tet period, and this year the South Vietnamese High Command has ordered that the province be patrolled thoroughly in case of trouble.

There were little action earlier this week. The troops moved forward to the hills and then checked the roads connecting Highways 13 and 22 for communist activity. Civilians in the area were stopped and searched, but there was no contact reported.