SOUTH VIETNAM: VIET CONG ATTACK SAIGON IN 2ND. MAJOR OFFENSIVE.

Record ID: 355308

  • Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: VIET CONG ATTACK SAIGON IN 2ND. MAJOR OFFENSIVE.
  • Date: 7th May 1968
  • Summary: DAMAGED BIEN HOA BRIDGE; WOUNDED VIET CONG GOVERNMENT FORCES LOOKING FOR VIET CONG; DEAD VIET CONG AND CIVILIANS FLEEING AREA. Initials MA/V/BOB/PF Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd May 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVA5EITH29J61YF7SL86IK2O5FLT
  • Story Text: THE VIET CONG'S SECOND MAJOR OFFENSIVE OF THE YEAR, WAS CONCENTRATED ON THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE CAPITAL OF SAIGON AND MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS.

    THE VIET CONG CONCENTRATED THEIR ATTACK IN SAIGON ON STRATEGIC TARGETS, HITTING THE QUAY AND BERTHS OF SAIGON HARBOUR, THE TAN SON NHUT AIRPORT AND THE BIEN HOA BRIDGE - A KEY CROSSING OF THE SAIGON RIVER. THE U.S. COMMANDER AT THE AIRPORT WAS KILLED IN THE ATTACK AND THE BRIDGE WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED, BUT SAVED FROM COMPLETE DESTRUCTION BY AMERICAN AND ALLIED FORCES.

    AFTER THEIR SERIES OF HIT-AND-RUN RAIDS THE COMMUNISTS TOOK SHELTER IN NEARBY HOMES. THEY WERE EVENTUALLY DRIVEN OUT BY FIERCE HOUSE-TO-HOUSE FIGHTING. SOME OF THE VIET CONG WERE CAPTURED, BUT MOST WERE KILLED.

    THE ATTACKS IN SAIGON WERE AMONG 78 REPORTED AT VARIOUS POINTS IN THE SOUTH IN 24 HOURS. ONE OF THE MORE SERIOUS ASPECTS OF THE NEW OFFENSIVE WAS THE DELIBERATE SETTING FIRE OF A BLOCK OF HOUSES IN A SAIGON SUBURB WHICH TOOK FIVE HOURS TO PUT OUT, HELPED BY A HEAVY DOWNPOUR OF RAIN. ALTOGETHER 5,000 FAMILIES IN SAIGON HAVE BEEN MADE HOMELESS IN THE PRESENT OFFENSIVE. THEY ARE BEING HOUSED IN SCHOOLS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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