Viet Cong hospital found DPR/TV/809

Australian soldiers on continuing Operation Pinnaroo have found a Viet Cong field hospital with large quantities of equipment and medical supplies, hidden in an extensive cave complex deep in the Long Hai Hills, south east of Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province. Members of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, found the hospital after working their way for days through a treacherous mine field, painstakingly lifting and neutralising the mines as they went. Four days were spent searching the hospital area, carefully combing inch by inch through the underground tunnels, caves and caverns. The hospital was in a valley thickly strewn with huge boulders, each one possibly covering an entrance to the underground complex. It is the biggest find by the Australians since Operation Pinnaroo began. The Viet Cong had vacated the hospital in such a hurry that they left behind valuable medicines, hospital equipment, clothes, food and weapons. It is believed they fled from the area only two or three days before the members of 3rd Battalion arrived...possibly as a result of airstrikes by US B52 bombers. Thousands of medical documents were captured, bearing the names of many Viet Cong who had been treated at the hospital. After sorting, these were passed back to the Battalion's intelligence section for further checking. The hospital, although crudely housed, was equipped with the latest in medical supplies, and probably was staffed by a doctor, a pharmacist and three medical orderlies. It was capable of housing about 60 Viet Cong. Anti-biotics, vaccines, large supplies of blood plasma and general medicines and bandages will be handed over to a Vietnamese hospital. About 400 lb of rice, clothing and heavy equipment which could not be carried out of the area, was destroyed on the spot. The entire hospital complex is to be blown up, and all entrances sealed, to ensure it can no longer be used by the Viet Cong once the Australians leave the area. Troops of the Battalion are continuing their search of the Long Hai Hills in Operation Pinnaroo, now in its fifth week. (Also identified: Corporal Owen Smith of North Adelaide, SA; Lieutenant H. J. Clarsen of Wollongong, NSW; Private Graham Taylor of Adelaide, SA; Lance Corporal Rod Hill of Geelong, Vic)