THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 AUGUST 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993475
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 21, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
The President's Daily Brief
21 August 1972
45
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 513(11(2).13)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/1 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
21 August 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
There was sharp fighting in each of South Vietnam's
four military regions over the weekend amid signs
that the Communists hope to keep the war going at
a heightened pace over the next several weeks. Aer-
ial photography of Haiphong harbor shows a Chinese
minesweeper and two smaller craft apparently equipped
for minesweeping operations. (Page 1)
Recent satellite photography of the Ping-hsiang area
on the China - North Vietnam border showed a high
level of logistics activity. (Page 3)
In Laos, yang Pao's forces are not encountering any
major enemy resistance in their advance toward the
Plaine des Jarres. (Page 4)
Moroccan King Hassan's address to the nation over
the weekend is not likely to inspire confidence in
his rule. (Page 5)
The East Germans presented a new draft treaty on
basic relations with West Germany at the latest
Bahr-Kohl session. (Page 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
14
104
108
Demilitarized Zone
uang Tri
a Nang
MRI
FSB Ross
Que Son
THAILAND
CAM BOD
Mekong
-12
BEEN
-10
Gulf of
Thailand
104
MR 4
Rt 15
R3
Capital Special Zone
118
AM
ANN
110
MR 2
South
China
Sea
SOUTH VIETNAM
MILES
100
16-
14-
10-
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
Sharp fighting took place in each of South Viet-
nam's four military regions over the weekend amid
signs that the Communists hope to keep the war going
at a heightened pace over the next several weeks.
The enemy's most damaging attacks were in the Que
Son Valley south of Da Nang, where North Vietnamese
forces drove government troops out of Fire Support
Base Ross, an important strongpoint, and captured a
nearby district town.
The attacks open up an important approach
to the populated coastal districts south
of Da Nang. Initial field reports suggest
that the South Vietnamese forces may, have
had leadership problems; the local govern-
ment commander is reported to have pulled
his forces out against the orders of the
regional commander, General Truong. Gov-
ernment troops are now regrouping and form-
ing a new defense line.
To the north, there were no major new engage-
ments in the Quang Tri City area, but the enemy's
intense shelling of government forces continued,
and additional North Vietnamese reinforcements have
joined the battle. Prisoners indicate that elements
of all three regiments of the 308th Division have
taken up positions just south of the citadel.
In the region around Saigon battles flared near
several key routes. Civilian traffic was held up
temporarily by skirmishing along routes 1, 13, and
15 in an arc some 25 miles north and east of the
capital. The bloodiest fight, however, took place
about 20 miles south of Saigon near Route 4. This
action, which cost government troops more than 80
casualties, could presage a major enemy attempt to
interdict RoUte 4 and cut Saigon off from the vital
rice growing delta region.
Review of recent aerial photography of Haiphong
harbor shows a shallow-draft Chinese minesweeper
moored next to a Chinese merchantman that has been
trapped in the harbor since the mining in April.
(continued)
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14: CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP-79T00936A011000180001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
553485 8-72
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CHINA - NORTH VIETNAM
Satellite photography covering the
Ping-hsiang area on the China - North Vietnam border
showed a high level of logistics activity. The
total car and locomotive count in the main rail
yard--616--was about equal to the previous daily
high during June and July, but the number of ve-
hicles and large pieces of equipment--847--was more
than double the previous high. These vehicles were
sighted on rail cars and parked in open storage.
Almost 350 of them were parked on roads west of the
rail yard. In the main rail yard ten tank cars
were visible on the spur leading to the petroleum
storage facility, and seven tank cars were seen
elsewhere in the yard. In one area of the yard,
petroleum storage tanks apparently were being
transferred to trucks.
25X1
Equipment in the main yard and on an 11-mile
stretch of rail line to the north totaled 1,600
vehicles and large pieces of equipment, including
12 tanks, 36 canvas-covered pieces of equipment--
presumably armored personnel carriers--on flatcars,
and 19 buses. Satellite photography of 25X1
last year showed fewer than 500 vehicles
over-all Ping-hsiang area.
Activity at Don. Danq on the North Vietnamese
side of the border was also high. Many 25X1
trucks and truck convoys--some towing AAA and field
artillery pieces--were seen on the roads in the
vicinity of Dong Dang. The rail line between Dong
pang and Hanoi appeared to be open to through traffic
all the way to Bac Giang. Freight cars were observed
on sidings all along the rail line and at least one
train was seen moving on the line.
in the
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000180001-5
LAOS: PLAINE DES JARRES AREA
- saw
Miles 10
?Government-held location
N. ?Communist-held location
A Highpoint
./...,..,
,
'On ?fl
) re v6r ''Bouanaong
I