South Vietnamese Army Ranger in action in Cho Lon area (Visnews production number 4828-68)

South Vietnamese Army Rangers have been combing Saigon's Chinese sector of Cho Lon trying to flush out die-hard Viet Cong. On Wednesday fighting was continuing in parts of Cho Lon, but it was less fierce than during the previous three days when the Viet Cong offensive on the capital began. About 300 Viet Cong were thought to be holding out in the Cho Lon area, where they had hoisted a new red, blue and yellow Viet Cong flag only 4 miles (6 km) from the Presidential Palace. Gunships blasted the burning shanty town as columns of smoke rose high into the air, but failed to bring down the flag. Meanwhile, tonight (10 May) the Viet Cong appeared to be pulling out from Saigon as peace contacts between the United States and North Vietnam opened in Paris. But it is thought the withdrawal could be a feint, and documents released by the American mission are said to indicate that the fighting could continue for another five days.