- Title: SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES STRIKE INTO CAMBODIA
- Date: 3rd May 1970
- Summary: 1. LV TANKS ADVANCING (3 SHOTS) 0.13 2. MV TANKS THROUGH UNDERGROWTH AND LV DITTO (2 SHOTS) 0.30 3. MV TROOPS WALKING ALONG PATH TOWARDS 0.41 4. MV TANK TOWARDS OVER BROKEN ROAD 0.54 5. CU MAN ON FIELD TELEPHONE 0.56 6. MV TANKS INTO VILLAGE, WRECKAGE OF BUILDING AROUND (4 SHOTS) 1.15 7. CU GENERAL TRI WITH OTHERS (2 SHOTS) 1.28 Initials OJP/V/CT/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th May 1970 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CAMBODIA
- Country: Cambodia
- Reuters ID: LVACURU3X76A1OJ4HFRHFNUK5VJB
- Story Text: LED BY AMERICAN TROOPS, SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES HAVE STRUCK DEEP INTO CAMBODIAN TERRITORY IN A "BLITZKRIEG" AIMED AT WIPING OUT THE COMMUNIST HEADQUARTERS OF THE VIET CONG.
ON FRIDAY (1ST MAY) 9,000 SOLDIERS, SUPPORTED BY HEAVY ARTILLERY AND AIR STRIKES, SWARMED ACROSS THE BORDER FROM SOUTH VIETNAM INTO THE "SANCTUARY" AREA OF CAMBODIA TO SURROUNDED AND DESTROY THE VIET CONG'S OPERATIONAL CENTRE BELIEVED TO BE THERE. THE MOVE FOLLOWED PRESIDENT NIXON'S ORDER TO SURPRISE AND WIPE OUT THE ENEMY SHELTERING IN CAMBODIA BEFORE THE MONSOON RAINS BEGIN IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.
VILLAGERS IN THE SVEY RIENG PROVINCE ADJACENT TO THE BORDER IN CAMBODIAN TERRITORY KNOWN AS THE "FISH HOOK" WERE NOTICEABLY STARTLED TO SEE THE ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND TANKS SWEEP THROUGH THEIR QUIET COUNTRYSIDE.
THE AMERICANS AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE PENETRATED 24 MILES INTO CAMBODIA BEFORE SEIZING PRASOUT CITY WHICH ONLY LAST WEEK WAS VIRTUALLY UNDER VIET CONG DOMINATION. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE VIET CONG. THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE COMMANDER, GENERAL DO CAO TRI, WAS WITH THE TROOPS WHEN THEY ENTERED THE CITY.
IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS THE AMERICAN AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES REPORTED KILLING 202 VIET CONG AND NORTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS, AND CAPTURING A FURTHER 166. ONLY 2 AMERICANS WERE REPORTED KILLED IN THE SAME PERIOD. COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, INCLUDING NORTH VIETNAM, THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND THE SOVIET UNION HAVE ANGRILY DENOUNCED THE INVASION.
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