Word: thong
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SQUEEZE LAOS in its more populous western provinces. Communist forces mounted an offensive on the Plain of Jars more than two weeks ago, began to surround Luangprabang, the royal capital, and maintained pressure on Sam Thong and Long Cheng, headquarters of the CIA-backed army of Meo tribesmen...
...bombing of the last two years, the United States now finds itself in a weaker position in Laos than at any time since the air war began. During the past two years, communist forces in northern Laos took the major bases of Na Khang and Moung Soui, rendered Sam Thong inactive as a center for refugee operations, and installed themselves in force southwest of the Plain of Jars for the first time. In southern Laos they captured the provincial capitals of Saravane and Attopeu, and extended their control over most of Laos' six southern provinces...
Laotian forces under General Vang Pao scored a success of sorts by reoccupying Sam Thong, a U.S. refugee aid base. Fearful of U.S. airpower, the enemy had never fully occupied Sam Thong, simply remaining in the hills. Vang Pao took an active role near his threatened base at Long Cheng. An enemy mortar position was giving his troops severe trouble, and counterbattery fire had failed to knock it out. Vang Pao, with U.S. Ambassador George Godley as a witness, sighted along the barrel of a 105-mm. howitzer as if it were a squirrel rifle and barked instructions. The first...
...retaking of Sam Thong raised the morale of Prince Souvanna Phouma's government. But at week's end, after a transient lull, the Communists launched a new rocket and mortar attack on Sam Thong, advancing to within 200 yards of the base's airstrip. There was also ominous evidence of continued Communist buildups around Vang Pao's home base just 20 miles to the south...
...heavy U.S. air support, succeeded in driving the Communist forces from the plain. Five weeks ago, reinforced North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao troops reoccupied the plain-and this time they decided to go farther. After pausing to resupply, the Communists moved southeast. Late last week government forces abandoned Sam Thong to the Communists, and North Vietnamese troops were reported on the verge of attacking the CIA center at Long Cheng...