Screening the population DPR/TV/786

Difficulties in village cordon and search operations have been many and varied, but one of the greatest difficulties has been the problem of screening the inhabitants and effectively searching a village while they remained in it. In recent Australian operations of this nature, the local population has been moved outside the village, divided into groups according to sex, and individually questioned by Vietnamese authorities. Australian troops played little part in the screening as their main task was the cordon and search of the village. After the cordon was completed the villagers were asked to go to a prescribed staging area. Troops then swept the village to ensure that no inhabitants remained, and then a systematic search began for Viet Cong, or equipment and supplies which could be of value to them. As here, in the recent cordon and search of Long Dien, 12 miles south-west of the Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat, 7000 people were screened. Of these, 150 were detained as Viet Cong suspects or sympathisers. During the screening the main function of the Australian troops was to assist in maintaining orderly behaviour among the villagers, ensure they had sufficient water and food and offer them some defence against a possible Viet Cong attack. For troops nearby who were preparing to search the village, the only respite was a cold drink from a welfare officer with the Task Force. (Also identified: Private Brian O'Connor of Bowraville, NSW; Private Terry Wellard of Benalla, Vic)