THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 12 APRIL 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992582
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 12, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
12 April 1971
49
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
12 April 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Communist forces are maintaining heavy pressure
against Fire Support Base 6 in South Vietnam's cen-
tral highlands. (Page 1)
In Laos, government forces are forming a new defen-
sive line around the Long Tieng complex. (Page 2)
On Page 3, we report on the Ceylonese insurrection,
In Pakistan, government troops are continuing to
advance on several fronts
(Page 4).
The fedayeen withdrawal from Amman has eased ten-
sions in the Jordanian capital, but security con-
ditions in northern Jordan are likely to worsen as
a result. (Page 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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KONTUM PROVINCE
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
Fighting was heavy around Fire Support Base 6
in the central highlands over the weekend and press
reports indicate that South Vietnamese forces are
having difficulty getting new supplies. Heavy Com-
munist antiaircraft fire has apparently prevented
all but mall amounts of supplies from being air-
dropped in. Intercepted enemy messages indicate
that two battalions of the North Vietnamese 40th
Artillery Regiment are moving closer to the camp.
These battalions, which were previously
identified in the general area, will in-
crease enemy firepower against the base
and may strengthen enemy defenses against
air strikes. This apparent new reinforce-
ment follows a prisoner report that ele-
ments of the 3rd Regiment of the North
Vietnamese 2nd Division have also been
sent to reinforce the two regiments al-
ready there. These two regiments--the
66th and 28th--have taken heavy casual-
ties, mostly from B-52 strikes, according
to the South Vietnamese defenders.
The enemy has staged heavy attacks in the
central highlands in the dry season for
the past several years. The intensity of
the current fighting suggests, however,
that the Communists may want to test how
well the South Vietnamese there can fight
without help from US ground forces.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Luang
Prabang.
AREA OF
MAIN MAP .
LAOS: Plaine des Jarres
'
Vientiane
61
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an Ban
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Government forces are planning to form a new
defensive line around the Long Tieng complex now
that the Ban Na artillery site has fallen. The line
will stretch from defense positions west of Hill
1663 in a southeasterly direction through Phou Long
Mat and Tha Tam Bleung, and will terminate at Pha
Dong. Howitzer batteries are to be deployed at either
end of the line, as well as at key positions near
Phou Long Mat.
Communist forces maintained pressure against
government strongpoints over the weekend but no ma-
jor positions changed hands. Irregular forces on
two ridge positions between Long Tieng and Tha Tam
Bleung were engaged in sharp fighting on Saturday;
those on Hill 1978 beat back an attack by an esti-
mated 100-150 North Vietnamese troops. The irregu-
lars expect stronger Communist attacks, and inter-
cepted communications from elements of the North
Vietnamese 312th and 316th divisions indicate that
such attacks are being planned.
The government's planned offensive to relieve
enemy pressure on the Luang Prabang area is slowly
getting started. Resistance has thus far been light,
but enemy communications indicate that elements of
the North Vietnamese 335th Independent Regiment--
the major Communist force threatening the royal cap-
ital--are planning a stiff defense of their newly
won positions.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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INDIA
ilaffhe
GULF
OF
MANNAR
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INDIAN OCEAN
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C'
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CEYLON
The insurrection continues to be centered in
the area between Colombo and Kandy in the interior
and around Anuradhapura in the north. On midnight
Saturday, however, insurgents attacked a police sta-
tion on the Colombo waterfront arriving and depart-
in b sea.
The government reaction continues to be disor-
ganized. Apparently it has no clear information on
how many police stations have been attacked, where
troops have been sent, or how many are available.
The government has called for volunteers to strengthen
the army, but political factions are getting into
the act. Officials of two Marxist junior partners
in Mrs. Bandaranaike's coalition are organizing a
home guard auxiliary.
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INDIA
StitlIongo
BAY OF BENGAL'.
Cox's Bazar
551300 4-71 CIA
0 Fighting reported
? Reportedly under rebel control
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
PAKISTAN
Government troops evidently have continued to
advance on several fronts, and the normally pro-
Bengali Press Trust of India reported yesterday that
they had taken the major river town of Pabna. Other
reports indicated that fighting was still going on
in or near Sylhet, Comilla, Rangpur, Bogra, Jessore,
Dinaipur, and Raishahi.
Chittagong is firmly in
the hands of the military but army
control extends only about six miles into the coun-
tryside. the port has been inactive
for two weeks, and at least 28 ships are wait-
ing to be unloaded--many of them carrying PL-480
grain. Dacca's port city
of Narayanganj as "virtually uninhabited."
Pakistan continues to allege direct Indian in-
volvement with the rebels
4
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
JORDAN - ARAB STATES
The fedayeen have apparently withdrawn from
Amman in large numbers and are moving to positions
to the north and west of the city. The government
followed up the evacuation yesterday with arms
searches in various areas of the city that resulted
in a few shooting incidents.
The fedayeen evacuation will ease tensions
in the capital, although minor clashes be-
tween Jordanian security forces and remain-
ing fedayeen are likely to continue sporadi-
cally. Security problems in northern Jor-
dan, however, will be aggravated by the
exodus of the guerrillas from Amman.
Some fighting did occur in the north of the
country over the weekend.)
Meanwhile, a meeting of the chiefs of state of
the quadripartite alliance states--Egypt, Sudan,
Syria, and Libya--has been called for today in Cairo.
The purpose of the gathering is not clear,
although the leaders of these four coun-
tries meet regularly at three-month inter-
vals. Some discussion of the situation
in Jordan will almost certainly take place,
but the leaders will probably do little
more than appeal for an end to the fight-
ing.
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