THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 1 JULY 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992727
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 1, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
1 July 1971
46
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
1 July 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In Laos, Vang Pao's forces continue to cut deeply.
into Communist territory on and near the Plaine des
Jarres. (Page 1)
The immediate Communist threat has eased in South
Vietnam's central highlands. (Page 2)
Peking has increased its forces in western China
since early this year. (Page 3)
Communist logistic forces in the Laotian panhandle
are continuing a low level of transportation activ-
ity despite unusually heavy rains. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LAOS: PLAINE DES JARRES AREA
Miles ? ePrios7Vieng?.7
10 ,
'
1 ? Government-held location
?Communist-held location II
r
tlito'uom Longa. /?.."
,
L- Government forces recapture
? / (
eBantla
hou Seto
5616-077-71 EIA
,
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
On Tuesday, forward elements of yang Pao's ir-
regulars reached Xieng Khouang airfield in the north
central portion of the Plaine des Jarres and estab-
lished a landing zone nearby. They found no evidence
of recent enemy activity. At the same time, other
patrols moved into the northeastern part of the
Plaine, locating and destroying many small supply
caches.
Government forces have not been present in
this area of the Plaine since February
1970, when a North Vietnamese counteroffen-
sive drove the irregulars from Xieng
Khouangville and swiftly rolled back the
gains of the rainy season campaign in 1969.
Other 'significant' governmentadvances were
scored west of the Plaine. Irregular units have cap-
tured the entire Phou Seu'ridge--the scene of clashes
for several days=-and other' irregulars' have moved
back into Ban Na, an important government artillery
base that had been abandoned in April.
yang Pao was not able to take Ban Na. until
mid-October last year, and his efforts to
secure strong points north of Ban Na then
had proved only temporarily successful.
The'North Vietnamese clearly have been
caught off balance by Yang Pao's offensive;
They had been pulling back some of their
units from forward. positions west of the
Plaine, which in part accounts for yang
Pao's relatively easy progress to date.
Recent intercepts from the two Communist
regiments near Phou Seu and Phou Theung.
indicate that they. have suffered casual-
ties and have.suppty-problems, largely
resulting from government tactical air
and artillery attacks. The North Vietnam-
ese, however, still have six regiments,
with artillery and armor support, in the
general vicinity of the Plaine.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Enemy Forces Return to Base Areas
QUANG TIN
THAILAND
QUANG.
NGAI
BINH DINH
SOUTH
PHU
BON
PHU
YEN
CAMB DIA
? OAR LAC
KHANH
HOA
TAY
NINH
? PHUOC
BINH LONG
LONG
NINH
THUAN
BINH
TUY
BINH
THUAN
VIETNAM
)CEN
PHON
H tJOC
TUY
551610 7-71 CIA
VINH
LONG
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
Two North Vietnamese infantry regiments and
part of an artillery regiment have moved away from
the Ben Het battlefield in western Kontum Province
to sanctuary in Laos. Two other North Vietnamese
infantry regiments, which had been attacking allied
targets in Pleiku Province, have pulled back into
a Cambodian base camp. Elements of these units,
however, no doubt remain behind to harass allied po-
sitions in conjunction with local forces.
These regiments apparently have pulled
back for a period of rest and retraining.
They are likely also to absorb many of the
new personnel and much of the equipment--
including long-range artillery and pos-
sibly antiaircraft weapons--which were
moving south during May and June from
North Vietnam.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Peking Increases Forces in Western China
Lake " 'Chita
tiikal
* ? Irkutsk
_ Alma-Ata
cC::7
arumchi
Newly identified
artillery and armor
Shuang-ch'eng-tzu4
Lop ?u-4\
- CHINA
0,
,
Sinkiang
Miles "N
551609 7 71 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
COMMUNIST CHINA
The latest satellite photography shows more than
100 artillery, pieces in revetted positions, about 50
tanks and assault guns, and over 300 trucks in the
hills just south of Urumchi in Sinkiang. The equip-
ment would be enough for an artillery division and
an armor unit of undetermined size.
Chinese forces in Sinkiang had been ex-
panded from about 40,000 in 1965 to 80,000
at the end of 1970. Much of this gradual
increase resulted fron'& the addition of an
infantry division and border defense forces.
Identification of the equipment for new
units is the first evidence of a reinforce-
ment of this nature in western China. The
artillery and armor will considerably en-
hance the capability of the Chinese to de-
fend the flat plain between the Soviet bor-
.der and Urumchi.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Indochina: Communist supply forces in the
Laotian panhandle are continuing a low level of
transportation activity, despite unusually heavy
rains. Occasional breaks in the weather have per-
mitted the repair and use of rain- and bomb*-damaged
main roadsvand supplies have been free-floated on
waterways. Although truck movements increased dur-
ing the past week, the flow of supplies during June
remained below last June's level when weather was
better. Some AAA units and logistic personnel are
returning to North Vietnam for the duration of the
rainy season, but there have been no indications of
a large-scale withdrawal; most of the Communists'
logistic forces are likely to remain in the panhandle.
USSR?Egypt:
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Top Secret
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