SAIGON: Viet-Cong forces attacked and occupied nine South Viet-Namese cities between Saigon and the embattled northern war zone today [Jan 30]. The co-ordinated strikes amount to by far the mightiest Viet-Cong offensive of the war, an American spokesman said here.

Urban centres attacked and held for at least a few hours included seven provincial capitals. United States troops had to fight to recover Kontum and Pleiku, the most important city in Central Highlands. Fighting was continuing at Pleiku this afternoon.

American command called off the scarcely begun “Tet” Lunar New Year truce throughout the country as reports of the surprise simultaneous Viet-Cong strikes poured into Saigon.

Da Nang, the second city of South Viet-Nam, “withstood” its closest raid in three years, the American spokesman said. Street fighting raged for hours in Qui Nhon. A Government regimental command headquarters was seized at Ban Me Thout. Nha Trang, the “safest” city, was occupied by the Viet-Cong for the first time in the war.

The guerillas were still fighting grimly in the streets of two, possibly three, of the nine cities. According to reports in Saigon, South Viet-Namese and American forces were in control of five of the cities.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2018