Word: kompong
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...perhaps too swiftly since the invasion by South Vietnamese and U.S. troops in May-1970. In an operation dubbed Chenla 11 (named after a Khmer kingdom that existed from the sixth to the eighth century), 20,000 Cambodian troops set out last August to lift ; 15-month siege of Kompong Thorn, 78 miles north of the capital on Route 6. By October, the main force had reached that objective, but in the meantime had left troops strung out in perilously thin numbers along the road. The North Vietnamese counterattacked at the town of Rumlong, 30 miles south of Kompong Thorn...
...Cambodians finally retreated after 19 days of fierce fighting, only to be hit again at the nearby towns of Kompong Thmar and Baray. Some fled south to the starting point of Chenla 11. Others dug in at Kompong Thorn, which was by now choked with refugees. Premier Lon Nol, who had ordered the operation and staked his personal prestige on its success, called it off. The failure was evident: each side controlled almost exactly the same area as it held in August...
Dissatisfaction. Were the Communists about to invade Phnom-Penh? Not likely. Their aim, rather, seemed to be to force the Cambodians to move troops back to defend the capital and give up their road-clearing operations, leaving the countryside clear for the collection and movement of supplies. In Kompong Chhnang province northwest of Phnom-Penh, the Communist forces buy rice and fish from farmers at below-market prices, and transport the supplies to combat units by several routes. As long as such routes are open, the Communists are expected to content themselves with harassing government positions and attempting to organize...
...Cambodia managed to expand its army from 35,000 ill-trained men to a creditable force of perhaps 180,000. Though U.S. officials do not believe that the army is yet capable of defending the country alone, Cambodian forces last week did succeed in opening up the city of Kompong Thom, which for more than a year had been receiving supplies only by air and water...
Cambodian troops retreated for ten miles up Highway 4 under North Vietnamese attack. The highway is the only route connecting the deep water port of Kompong Som to Phnom Penh...