KHMER REPUBLIC: REFUGEES FLOOD INTO PHNOM PENH AS COMMUNISTS FIGHT UP TO THE FRINGES OF THE CITY.

Record ID: 275147

  • Title: KHMER REPUBLIC: REFUGEES FLOOD INTO PHNOM PENH AS COMMUNISTS FIGHT UP TO THE FRINGES OF THE CITY.
  • Date: 21st April 1973
  • Summary: 1. SV Armoured personnel carriers along highway (3 shots) 0.24 2. GV Officer speaking over field telephone & troops fire rifles (2 shots) 0.35 3. SV Soldier loading magazine 0.42 4. SV Soldier firing from behind tree 0.45 5. Soldiers firing through trees 0.56 6. SV Soldiers completing trenches 1.02 7. LV & SV Boat reaches ba
  • Embargoed: 6th May 1973 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BASSAC RIVER AREA, NEAR PHNOM PENH, KHMER REPUBLIC
  • Country: Cambodia
  • Reuters ID: LVADA7MDKZ3LGFAUTIBLWPF9ON8X
  • Story Text: Refugees fleeing from Communist troops on the eastern bank of the Bassac River are streaming into Phnom Ponh. There are fears that the city, already facing food and fuel shortages, will become overcrowded as the Communists tighten their cordon.

    United States B-52 bombers are carrying out raids only 10 miles (16 kilometres) from the centre of Phnom Penh as Communist forces push the defence perimeter of the beleaguered Khmer Republic capital into the fringes of the city.

    The heavy bombers were still in action on Saturday (21 April), hammering an area beyond the southern fringes of the capital. Meanwhile, on the ground, heavily reinforced Government troops pulled back to within 1 1/2 miles (2 1/2 kilometres) of the outer suburb of Takhmau - only 8 miles (12 kilometres) from the city centre.

    SYNOPSIS: Heavily reinforced Khmer Republic troops, battling Communist forces around the capital, Phnom Penh, are falling back in the face of continuous pressure. Giant B-52 bombers are now flying support raids over targets only 10 miles from the city.

    Many Khmer Government posts have been encircled and overrun by the steady Communist advance. Government troops on Friday pulled their defence positions back to an area only 8 miles from the centre of Phnom Penh. The retreat followed a heavy Communist bombardment of Siem Reap township, which was eventually abandoned by Government forces.

    The Khmer Government troops have been strengthening positions along the western bank of the Bassac River, south of Phnom Penh. Refugees have been streaming across from the east bank as the Communists move up close on the heels of the retreating Government units. Their one thought is to escape the fighting, and to seek what they believe will be safety in the beleaguered capital.

    The refugees have had to flee with whatever possessions they could cram onto a bullock cart or bicycle in the face of the Communist advance. They have presented the Khmer Government forces with a serious problem. There are fears that Communist troops will try to enter Phnom Penh disguised as refugees. Once in the city, they would be able to carry out guerrilla attacks. Checkpoints have been set up to try to prevent this happening, but the task is a difficult one.

    This checkpoint at Takhmau is only 8 miles from the centre of Phnom Penh. Yet the Communists are not far behind as the refugees hurry towards the city. ??? are growing that the capitol will soon become overcrowded as the advancing Communists frighten more and more refugees from the surrounding countryside to seek safety in Phnom Penh. The Communist blockade has already caused serious food and fuel shortages, and the city is beginning to rely increasingly on supplies flown in from South Vietnam.
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