Relief of Xuygen Moc DPR/TV/600

After more than six years of isolation and Viet Cong domination, the garrison town of Xuyen Moc in Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam, has been relieved. This week Brigadier Stuart Graham Commander, 1st Australian Task Force, cut the ribbon with Province Chief Colonel Dat and Province elder Mr Tuong that officially opened route 23 for the first time to road traffic since late 1960. More than 3,00 Vietnamese headed by Colonel Dat, attended the opening ceremony and more than 200 vehicles roared off along the nine miles of laterite and gravel between the village of Dat Do and Xuyen Moc. The road was cut and bridges blown by the Viet Cong who dominated the area around Xuyen Moc. Australian and American engineers had to repair 14 bridges and grade the nine miles of road under protection from the 6th Battalion, and 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The opening of key Route 23 was part of Operation Portsea which involved the infantry, cavalry and artillery and air elements of the Task Force searching and clearing the area. Having pushed the Viet Cong out the engineers moved in to repair the road. For the past six years the only means of travel to Xuyen Moc was by air. Civilians and service personnel based at the garrison town were supplied with food and equipment by helicopters. Farmers who moved produce down the battered road by oxcart were forced to pay up to 45 percent of their meagre earnings in tax to the Viet Cong. This week as the first vehicles rolled into Xuyen Moc the Vietnamese population turned out to line the way and cheer the Australian and American troops in scenes reminiscent of World War II cities and towns in Europe. Having opened the road the Task Force will now turn its security over to Vietnamese troops who will man check points and patrol the area.