Page 70 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

Two hour s later the Fourth Marine Battalion was heli-
Iifted frorn Vung Tau to Saigon although it had been continously engaged
in operations in the northern provinces a bare 48 hours before. The
Marine Task Force, which consisted of the First and Second Battalions
and was garrisoning in the area of Cai Lay, Dinh Tuong province, also
was brought to Saigon early that evening.

Before the arrival o{ these troops the intruders had rnoved
frorn the outskirts to the vicinity of Nguyen Kirn Boulevard, which is
near the Cong Hoa Stadiurn. They had not rnet with strong resistance
up to this point. They had only fired a few shots at a police station
south o{ the race track, a field police c arrrp on Tran Quoc Toan
Boulevard, and a few other installations in that general area.

The Cornrnunist colurnn succeeded in occupying the race
track and residential areas around the Wornen Auxiliary Corps School,
Frorn th.is point they deployed to a big quadrangle rnade up by the
Nguyen Tri Phuong, Tran Quoc Toan, Ly Thai To and Minh Phung
Boulevards and extending frorn the Tu Nghiern Fagoda to the seat of
rnilitant Buddhisrn at An Quang Pagoda. A few hours later the Nguyen
Kirn Boulevard carne under aerial attack following the reported presen-
ce of rra great rnany Viet Congrr.
That afternoon enerny troops penetrated the Nhi Dong
Hospital, harassed the base carnp of the Fifth MP Battalion on Ly
Thai To Boulevard and frorn there reached Su Van Hanh Street and the
An Quang Pagoda, occupying part of it. Their presence in this popu-
lous section o{ the city indicated their intention of ataging a popular
uprising which, if successful, would be directed to other parts of the
city.

During atrl thi6 time the people of Saigon only had the
local radio and their ears to help in keeping thernselves inforrned of
vrhat was happening in their city. Since rnost newspaper offices were
still closed {or the long holiday, Radio Saigon was the only source of
inforrnation. Unlike previous troubled days in the capital,the national
radio not only broadcasted rnartial rnugic but it also gave short news
bulletins every now and then.
The radio station soon announced that the ternpo of
fighting in the Hang Xanh area had been reduced a little, following
gorne rninor auccesses of the governrnent troops. Through the radio
the people of Saigon also were notified that the area of Ba Queo,
especially around the Vinatexco textile plant, rnust be evacuated by 0600

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