Nov. 25, 1964 - Grenade-hurling rioters in Saigon defied American peace appeals today as Ambassador Maxwell Taylor was flying home to Washington to urge an expanded American war role, including air strikes beyond the borders of South Vietnam.
But the U.S. Embassy passed the word to top South Vietnamese officials today that there was a limit to the patience of the American people. Further demonstrations, it was warned, could not only endanger prospects for stepped-up American involvement in Southeast Asia but could result in a considerable reduction in present assistance.
Saigon was under martial law today, but angry Buddhists, stirred by the killing of a 15-year-old boy, scheduled new anti-Government demonstrations. Authorities feared a fifth day of street riots.
The body of the boy, allegedly gunned down late last night, was lying on a table in Buddhist headquarters with a Vietnamese flag. Candles flickered around it.
The youth’s body was the focal point of attention for a crowd of about 1,000 milling around Buddhist headquarters. Some were armed with sticks and rocks.
“They have their martyr; now all hell could break loose,” a Western observer remarked.
The youth was the first known dead in the four days of rioting that have shaken Saigon this week. More than 100 persons, many of them police and soldiers, have been injured.
Buddhists claim two other persons were wounded by paratrooper pistol fire during skirmishes late last night. The paratroopers claim they were firing in self-defense and charge that a Communist Viet Cong-type grenade was lobbed at them from inside the Buddhist compound.
About 9 p.m. last night, three paratroopers were hurt on the other side of town. Several other grenade explosions were reported, indicating that the Communist Viet Cong have started capitalizing on the street rioting.
Government loudspeaker trucks drove through the city streets blaring the message: “Don’t be duped by the Viet Cong. Go home.”
This has failed to move any crowds away from their assembly points.
Yesterday’s disorders were possibly the worst of the year and did not quiet even after Premier Tran Van Huong imposed martial law.
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comments