THE WAR IN INDO-CHINA: OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS.
February 14, 1953
THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS
237
AN IMPORTANT FRENCH MILITARY BASE 25O MILES NORTH OF SAIGON 1 AN-KHE,
SHOWING ONE OF THE FORTIFIED POSTS ON THE PERIMETER.
SCENE OF A VIET-MINH OFFENSIVE IN JANUARY THE REGION NORTH OF AN-KHE,
A TYPICAL SCENE IN THE REGION EAST OF THAI-BINH DURING THE IMPORTANT
CLEANING-UP OPERATIONS IN MID-JANUARY FRENCH TROOPS CROSSING A RICE-FIELD.
It was announced on January 30 that French and Viet-Namese forces had landed
in the Communist-held Annamese port of Qui-Non, a small port about 40 miles
east of An-Khe, with which it is connected by a single track negotiable with
difficulty by motor vehicles. The landing, supported by naval forces and fighter- j
bombers from the aircraft-carrier Afromanches, succeeded in achieving complete
surprise and putting the Viet-Minh garrison to flight. The object of the landing
AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE ENEMY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE VILLAGE
OF LANG DONG LEADING FRENCH UNITS REPLYING TO THE ENEMY FIRE.
was primarily to create a diversion and relieve pressure on the hard-pressed
An-Khe sector. The Viet-Minh launched an offensive in mid-January in the
fteighbourhood of An-Khe and captured the post of Deo Vang, east of the town.
At the same time French troops were engaged in mopping - up operations at
Thai-Binh, a few miles from the coast south of the Red River delta, where their
mobile groups achieved some successes against Viet-Minh formations.
COMMANDING A FINE VIEW OF THE WOODED AND MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRYSIDE
ONE OF THE POSTS TO THE EAST OF AN-KHE, THE HARD-PRESSED FRENCH GARRISON
