General Jean De Lattre De Tassigny speaks about relations with Indochina. The French General gives a brief speech in French. He explains that France in still in Indochina not for colonial interests but to help the natives build their own independent country. The French are also fighting a war against the Communists.
Pacification of a region Southeast of Phy-Ly, Indochina. The operation takes place on an island bordered on one side by the Red River and on the other by the old river bed called 'Faux Canal'. The island is occupied by Viet Minh forces. Soldiers make their way amidst heavy fire. Smoke from explosions all around. French French Colonial forces escort eight Viet Minh prisoners to the rear.Troops in combat advance through under-bush. French DUKW amphibian drives out of the water. Local Vietnamese civilians organize for self defense. They construct a bamboo palisade. Masses of civilians work on the Red River dam under protection of French forces. French soldiers load prisoners into a jeep and drive away. A soldier sits guard near prisoners seated on the ground with their arms tied at their elbows, behind their backs. A Catholic village in the background is where they were captured.
General Jean De Lattre De Tassigny speaks about relations with Indochina. The French General gives a brief speech in English. He states that the French are fighting against the Communists for democracy and for the freedom of the world.
French soldiers combat Viet-Minh in Indochina. French artillerymen load and fire 105 mm Howitzers. Armed French infantry advance through jungles and pass burning huts.
French troops load and fire 105 mm Howitzers in Indochina. A large number of Viet-Minh prisoners walk with hands on their heads, escorted by armed French soldiers. The prisoners are all stripped to the waist. They carry wounded comrade on litter. Some carrying food supplies, including life pigs, on poles over their shoulders. French soldiers treat wounded comrades. A French B-26 flies overhead.
Scene of a Viet Minh attack on the Bai-Thao outpost in Indochina. View of Improvised French military camp site located 15 km from Sept-Pagodes and 8 km from Bentam. A French radio operator seated at a table alongside his equipment. French troops stand nearby and use binoculars to survey the camp area. A crowd gathered around corpses. Feet of one are tied together. Bullets lie near a corpse on the ground. Fly infested corpses after the attack. A sign post reads 'Bai-Thao'. An ambulance truck makes its way past the sign on a dirt road. French Officers talk with a Vietnamese boy. A French soldier stands near an artillery piece and looks out at a winding river. Vietnamese woman rides in a bicycle rickshaw and a man pulls a hand cart in front of French soldiers in parked Sherman tank. Three soldiers look out of the tank hatches. An officer stands atop the tank.