THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM NO. 16 (AS OF 12:30 P.M. EST)

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02150030
• Document Creation Date: January 28, 2019

Approved for Release: 2019/01/17 CO2150030
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SC No. 07434/68
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
5 February 1968
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Situation in South Vietnam No. 16
of 12:30-4,.Mt_ESX)
The Viet Cong appear to be maintaining strong
pressure against government security installations
in the Saigon area, notwithstanding the initiation
of a massive allied clearing operation throughout
the entire city. There have boon no further indica-
tions of an imminent large-scale Communist offensive
against the capital.
Heavy fighting continues for the sixth consecu-
tive day in Hue, while to the north, US forces have
reported three major contacts with battalion-
size Communist forces near Quang Tri City. ElSewhere
in I Corps, the military situation remains relatively
quiescent. No further significant North Vietnamese
initiatives have been reported against the US combat
base at Khe Sanh.
.In central Vietnam, allied forces appear to have
stabilized the security situation in the troubled
provincial capitals of Kontum, Pleikul and Ban Me
Thuot, although the cities of Tuy on and
Dalat are continuing to experience significant enemy
pressure.
While the eleven provinces of III Corps remain
generally quiet, Viet Cong forces in the delta con-
tinue to pose a major threat to a number of important
. populalation centers and government military installa-
tions.
T CRET
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The. Saigon Area
1.., There are unconfirmed press reports that
an estimated 400 Communist attackers early today
.overrau a police substation in Saigon and drove
police out of a nearby precinct headquarters which
they had set ablaze. The Saigon police reportedly
abandoned their 8th Precinot Headquarters in the
southern (Chelan) sector of the capital and with-
drew northward toward the center of the city. .
2. Official reporting from the field has con-
firmed additional small-scale Viet Cong harassing
attacks against Saigon municipal police units and
installations in the central residential area's 3rd
Precinct and in the 6th and 7th Precincts in Cholon.
3. Viet Cong elements thus far contacted in
the Saigon attacks have been described as wearing a
Variety of outfits, ranging from Buddhist robes and
civilian attire to ARM Regional Force, Chieu Hoi,
and jungle green uniforms.
4., Meanwhile,. an 18-battalion ARVN task force,
supported by National Police units, has begun a
massive house-to-house search of the entire Capital
city. US troops have been deployed around the..
perimeter ofSaigon to screen the ARVN security
sweep within the city proper.
5.. There was reported to be an abundant supply
of rice and bread in the shops of Saigon and Cholon
as of 4 February. Some merchants, however, are ap-
parently.not selling their rice, probably in the
expectation that prices will continue to soar /t
is estimated that the Saigon populace can endure to
the 9th or 11th of February without an inflow of
food,
Corps
G. Action here continues to be centered in the
northern provinces. US forces reported three major
contacts�each with an enemy battalion�near Quang
Tri on 5 February. It appears the Communists were
routed. in two of the contacts, north and oast of the
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city. No results are available on the third. US
observers report morale in Quang Tri is poor. Prom-
inent Vietnamese officials, including the province
chief,- are apparently moving their families out of
the city.
7. Elsewhere, there have been no major changes
reported since the 7:00 A.M. Sitrep. Unconfirmed
press reports indicate US Marino progress in Hue on
5 February continued to be slow in bitter street
fighting against determined Communist forces.
II Corps
8. In the western highlands, allied reaction
forces continue to press swooping operations against
enemy concentrations near the provincial capitals
of Kontum, Pleiku and Ban Me Thuot. No major de-
velopments have been reported since the 7:00 A.M.
Sitrep. Along the coast, Thy Hon was again attacked
by about a battalion of Viet Cong during the day
of 5 February according to press reports. The .
mountain resort city of DaIat is also said to be
under renewed enemy pressure.
III Corps
9. American observers in the area report no
new outbreaks of Communist activity as of the early
evening of 3 February. Enemy forces still pose a
threat to some provincial capitals including An Lac
and Phu Cuong.
IV Corps
1.0.� The Viet Con offensive seems to have
abated somewhat during 5 February in the Delta prov-
inces. However, substantial Communist forces remain
in the immediate vicinity of some administrative and
population centers and US observers on the scene ex-
pect renewed attacks at My The, Tra Vinh and Rach
Gia.. Last night, an enemy battalion attacked Go Cong
and VC gunners shelled installations near Can Tho.
Both areas were quiet by daybreak. Elsewhere, there
was sporadic sniper fire in several cities and scat-
tered resistance around the outskirts. .Although much
of the city has been ravaged, Vinh Long now appearsto
be firmly in friendly hands.
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Status of Forces
11. Although the Communist Tet offensive ap-
pears to have lost a measure of its countrywide
momentum,substantial enemy forces still threaten
population centers and allied positions ID some parts
of Vietnam. Available evidence places significant
concentrations of enemy troops near Quang Tri City,
Da Nang, and Quang Ngai City in the northern prov-
inces; Dah To, Kontum and Ploiku in the western 'aigh-
lands; in the III Corps provinces of Binh Duong Binh
Long and Bien floa; and in the northeastern provinces
of the Delta. Enemy dispositions in the Saigon area
aro unclear. And enemy strength in the Khe Sanh/DDIZ
area remains substantial.
12. Should the Communists elect to initiate a
fresh round of major attacks, these are likely to be
focused on the areas mentioned above.
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