VIETNAMESE ARMY RANGERS ARE CONTINUING TO PRESS FORWARD IN THE DO XA AREA, ABOUT 560 MILES NORTH-EAST OF SAIGON, WHERE THEY OVERRAN A VIET CONG ARMS FACTORY LAST WEEK. THE EXPLOIT WAS DESCRIBED AS THE BIGGEST SUCCESS TO DATE IN THE OPERATION AIMED AT WIPING OUT THE VIET CONG FIFTH INTER-ZONE BASE.

A TOTAL OF 40 TROOP-CARRYING HELICOPTERS ARE TAKING PART IN THE DO XA OPERATION. FIFTEEN WERE HIT BY GROUND FIRE IN THE INITIAL ASSAULT AND FOUR OF THEM FORCED DOWN. THE VIET CON DISPERSED WITHOUT A FIGHT AND FEW PRISONERS WERE TAKEN, BUT RESISTANCE HAS STIFFENED SINCE. VIET CONG CASUALTIES TO DATE ARE UNKNOWN GOVERNMENT FORCES HAVE LOST MORE THAN 15 KILLED.

THE OPERATION AGAINST THE BASE IS CONSIDERED SO IMPORTANT IT IS BEING DIRECTED PERSONALLY BY MAJOR GENERAL DO CAO TRI, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE SECOND VIETNAMESE ARMY CORPS.