CHOLON STREET SCENES; DEBRIS; SOLDIERS ON BUILDINGS SHOOTING; SURRENDERED GUERILLAS; DEAD GUERRILLAS; CAPTURED WEAPONS, BLIND-FOLDED PRISONERS; INJURED GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS.




Initials ERW/VS/CT/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SOUTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS WERE ON SATURDAY (6 JUNE) CONDUCTING HOUSE-TO-HOUSE SEARCHES IN CHOLON, SAIGON'S CHINESE AREA, IN AN ATTEMPT TO WEED OUT THE REMAINING VIET CONG SNIPERS, FOLLOWING A WEEK OF BLOODY STREET FIGHTING. EARLIER, 15 GUERRILLAS, MANY OF THEM WOUNDED, SURRENDERED TO THE GOVERNMENT FORCES WHICH HAD BEEN SLOWLY CLOSING IN ON THE ENTRENCHED VIET CONG.

THE GUERRILLAS, ONE OF WHOM WAS A WOMAN, WALKED OUT OF THE RUBBLE OFF THE HOUSES WHICH HAD AFFORDED THE PROTECTION FOR THE PAST WEEK AND WERE BLIND-FOLDED BEFORE BEING LED AWAY FOR INTERROGATION. SOME OF THE PRISONERS HAD AMERICAN CIGARETTES AND SOAP WITH THEM.

MOST OF THE ARMS CARRIED BY THE GUERRILLAS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC.

WHILE THE 15 WERE GIVING THEMSELVES UP, ANOTHER NINE VIET CONG, INCLUDING A WOMAN, WERE SHOT DEAD WHILE TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM A PAGODA.

MORE THAN 8,000 BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED OR SEVERELY DAMAGED IN THE BATTLE FOR CHOLON, EITHER DELIBERATELY SET ON FIRE BY THE VIET CONG, OR IN THE HEAVY GOVERNMENT SHELLING.