Show of Force

The U.S. six weeks ago gave its official nod of recognition to the state of Viet Nam, which the French had sponsored in Indo-China under former Emperor and reformed playboy Bao Dai. Last week ships of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral Russell S. Berkey, steamed through the South China Sea in a show of support for Bao Dai. Two destroyers, the U.S.S. Stickell and the U.S.S. Anderson, tied up at the capital of Saigon while Admiral Berkey paid a courtesy call on Bao Dai (see cut). The U.S. aircraft carrier Boxer sent her planes over Saigon to let the Indo-Chinese know she was in on the show too.

The Communists were waiting. Students and workmen, carrying the gold-starred flag of Ho Chi Minh's Moscow-backed guerrillas, marched on the harbor crying: "Down with American aid!" Before they reached the docks, the marchers were turned back by truncheon-swinging native police. Then the march turned into what the Communists wanted--a well-planned, carefully supervised riot.

Led by trained Red street fighters, the rioters maneuvered smoothly and swiftly to whistled signals. They burned the marketplace, tore down U.S. and French flags. From the hills around Saigon, Ho Chi Minh's guerrillas opened up on the destroyers with heavy mortar and machine-gun fire. The ships' crews were called to battle stations, but did not return the fire. Neither vessel was hit. A detachment of French troops finally dispersed the rioters. The casualty total: three dead,30 injured.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.