Cambodian base seized; start of Viet drive seen

Vietnamese troops captured a Khmer Rouge supply base in Cambodia Thursday during fierce fighting that diplomats said may mark the start of a long-awaited Vietnamese dry-season offensive. Thai military sources said Vietnamese soldiers fighting side by side with troops loyal to Heng Samrin, president of the Vietnamese-installed Phnom Penh regime, stormed the Phnom Chat hilltop and seized control of the once-strategic stronghold.

Phnon Chat, 116 miles northeast of Bangkok, was used by guerrillas loyal to Pol Pot to pick up international aid, food, and medical supplies.