- Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: MARINES MOVE TO CAMP TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON VIET CONG
- Date: 15th December 1969
- Summary: 1. LV HELICOPTER HAULING UP GUN FROM GROUND 0.08 2. LV HELICOPTER AWAY 0.11 3. SV MARINES CLEARING GROUND AND EQUIPMENT 0.16 4. LV LANDING CRAFT UP CANAL (2 SHOTS) 0.24 5. SV MARINES PUTTING EQUIPMENT ON LANDING CRAFT 0.25 6. LV CLEARING UP CAMP AND BURNING 0.28 7. LV MARINES DISMANTLING HUTS 0.35 8. SV & LV BURNING H
- Embargoed: 30th December 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SOUTH VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Reuters ID: LVA4F09EBW76LB5IYYLC41FZKA87
- Story Text: SOUTH VIETNAMESE MARINES RECENTLY TOOK PART IN AN OPERATION THAT INVOLVED THE COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THEIR CAMP AND EQUIPMENT FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER CENTRE OF VIET CONG ACTIVITY. THE SURROUNDING TERRITORY IN THE DELTA REGION IS OCCUPIED BY ABOUT THREE VIET CONG BATTALIONS, AND THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE ADOPTED A COMPLETE SCORCHED EARTH POLICY TO PREVENT ANYTHING FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY.
THE MOVE FROM THE AREA CAME A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS AFTER THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE TOOK OVER THE POSITION. THE OPERATION, WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE VIETNAMESE 23RD DIVISION, UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL NGUYEN VINH NGHI, WAS PLANNED TO ENABLE THE MARINES TO FOLLOW THE VIET CONG CLOSELY AND PREVENT THEM REGROUPING THEIR FORCES FOR AN OFFENSIVE AT CHRISTMAS OR IN THE NEW YEAR.
HELICOPTERS AND LANDING CRAFT WERE USED TO FERRY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO THE NEW CAMP SIGHT ALONG THE CANALS.
THE AREA HAS PLENTIFUL NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE VIET CONG ARE SPREAD OVER A WIDE AREA.
MANY OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE CANAL VILLAGES HAVE BECOME CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH THE VIET CONG IN THE TIME THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN THE AREA.
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