Fierce fighting for the town of Srang (Visnews production number 8307-70)

Cambodian government troops are making a major effort to recapture the town of Srang, 30 miles (45 km) south west of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. The government forces were driven out of Srang last Sunday (30 August). On Tuesday (1 September), they fought their way back to within half a mile of the town. In Tuesday's fighting, the government troops stationed themselves in the rice paddies, with a leafy thicket screening them from the entrenched Communist forces in the town. The Cambodian air force swept into action to bombard the town, and the ground troops made use of the diversion to inch their way forward through the water. The Cambodian forces had the advantage in numbers, but the defenders were more experienced and had the greater firepower. As a result they were able to force the government troops back, and inflict a number of casualties. The Cambodian forces withdrew, dragging their wounded away with them over the rough and waterlogged ground.