April 20, 1970

Premier Castro announces group of mercenaries has landed in Oriente Prov, E of Baracoa, and is fighting with Govt forces, radio communique; map; repts 4 soldiers killed and 2 hurt, 2 mercenaries killed and 3 captured; charges invaders came from US, are equipped with modern US arms; Alpha 66 exile orgn leader Nazario Sargen says men may be members but stresses orgn has no operational base in US and that any operations would be carried out from outside US territory, telephone int, Miami; declines to give details of landing to protect men; other exiles suggest 40 are involved, led by V Mendez, former capt in Castro's rebel army; landing coincides with anniv of '61 Bay of Pigs invasion

Cambodian field comdr repts Vietnamese Communist unit seized without a fight town of Saang, 20 mi S off Pnompenh; Govt believed to be surprised by move; had just released and returned about 300 detained Vietnamese women and children to nearby village of Khau Khor; details other enemy action; Govt gives assurances, indirectly but for 1st time, that Vietnamese civilians are not to be subjected to repressive measures; denies there is any anti-Vietnamese campaign underway; makes no explanations of shootings at Takeo; map

revenue pkg includes measure to give NYC and counties outside city 1/3 share of new revenues, permits sale of lottery tickets through vending machines and in bars and liquor stores and increases venders' sales fees beyond present 5%

HOUSTON, April 19 — The Apollo 13 astronauts were wel comed home tonight with a message from President Nixon reiterating his “strong, firm support” of the nation's manned space program despite the aborted moon mission.

Amer officials in Saigon become growingly pessimistic over situation; now believe that Vietnamese Communists have effectively secured their sanctuaries in eastern Cambodia during recent fighting; harbor growing doubts on capacity of new Govt to control Cambodian people and to stabilize domestic pol situation; are divided over whether US should grant mil aid to new regime; pessimism linked to poor showing of army and repts of mass murders of Vietnamese