THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 6, 2014
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: July 18, 1965
• Content Type: MEMO

9-Z000Z0001-ZOOVZL170016LdCW-V10 LO/O/i7LO eseala Joj panaiddv Adoo pezMueS -1-18d LI! Po!l!bbi.-Pvu
1,X09
?
0(09
(Th
9-Z000Z000 ZOOVZL170016LdCI 1-V10 LO/Z0/17 OZ eseala ..104 panaidc
V Ado Pez!4!ueS u! PeWsseloaa
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-2-5
16, July 1965
HIGHLIGHTS
The joint
communiqu?oncerning Chinese economic assist-
ance to the DRV issued on 17 July appears cal-
culated to convey the impression that Peiping
and Hanoi have moved still closer together. So-
viet Premier Kosygin's latest denunciation of
US actions in Vietnam is-tough and hard hitting
but does not appreciably increase Moscow's com-
mitment to aid the DRV.
I. The Military Situation in South 'Vietnam:
Guam-based B-52 bombers of the Strategic Air Com-
mand yesterday conducted a massive raid against a
suspected Viet'Cong troop area at Mang Yang Pass
near the Pleiku - Binh Dinh Province border, in sup-
port of a ten-battalion ?ARvy road clearing operation
along strategic Route 19 (Para. 1). Communist guer?
rillas yesterday mounted simultaneous attacks against
five government outposts ringing the district capi-
tal of Son Ha, in coastal Quang Ngai Province (Para. 2).
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
gnvi
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Mortar' attacks were reported yesterday against a
beleaguered government paramilitary caip at Duc Co,
in Pleiku Province, and against an ARVN regimental
headquarters at Phu My, in Phuoc Tuy Province (Para. 3).
Viet Cong saboteurs cut Route 15 between Bien Hoa
air base and the port city of Vung Tau in ten
separate places during the past week end. (Para. 4).
Continued skirmishing has been reported between US
marines and the Viet Cong near Da Nang air base
(Para. 5). Viet'Cong terrorists have been reported
active in Binh Thuan Province, and in the city of
Da Nang (Para. 6). The 52nd Ranger battalion has
completed sweep operations in Binh Duong Province,
and final casualty figures for both sides have been
received (Para. 8). Government forces have scored
favorable results in a large-scale search-and-de-
stroy operation conducted against Communist units
in Binh Thuan Province on 14-15 July (Para. 9).
Officially confirmed Communist military activity
during 15-16 July was characterized by mortar shellings
of district towns, friendly troop encaMpments, and
outposts, and by mine detonations against civilian
and military personnel (Para. 10).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
Government suspension of three Saigon newspapers,
including the principal organ of militant Vietnamese
Catholic circles, may arouse increased hostility
among Catholic extremists, already dubious of the
government's version of the killing of Colonel Pham
N oc Thao (Paras. 1-2). 50X1
Buddhist leader Tri Quang may 50X1
be weighing not only his support for the new mili-
tary government, but his attitude toward the pros- 50X1
pects of the war in general (Paras. 3-4). In ton-
versations with US officials, Premier Ky has singled
out the rice situation and the isOue, of black-market
currency as his two greatest economic problems (Para. 5).
III. Military DevelopMents in. North'VietnamL.
US Navy and Air Force planes hit a variety of tar-
gets on 17 and 18 July, including port facilities
at Ham Rong and Ben Thuy,the ordnance depot at Yen
Bay, and barracks areas at Ban X= Lom and Vinh Son.
Armed route reconnaissance missions hit a number of
fixed targets including support facilities and trucks.
18 July 1965
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-51
One A6A was lost in the strike on Ham Hong, and the
Communists claim the two-man crew was captured
(Paras. 1-3).
V. Communist Political Developments: The joint
Sino-Vietnamese communiqu?oncerning economic as-
sistance issued on 17 July, and a speech by DRV
Vice Premier Hoan at a Peiping banquet the same day
appear designed to indicate that the Chinese Commu-
nists and North Vietnamese are moving still closer
?together (Paras. 1-3). Soviet Premier Kosygins
latest denunciation of US actions in Vietnam em-
ployed tough, hard-hitting language but did not ap-
preciably increase Moscow's existing commitment to
assist the DRV (Paras. 4-6).
18 July 1965
iii
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
SOUTH VIETNAM
Mun4
Sakon Naknon
?
Munng
Nakhon
'N 0 P 4
Do
\VIETN.A\A\
? n Ho,
g
DEMARCATION CINE '
? I -4'8'0 Ho Quait T. e
18""ne Qt.! N
Mo.GO
? _ 5 R I S
R.P-h(ne 0
C
H- IEN
( QUAN N
? -
TI-IA
'N D
M\un4g
'."" tA5rin
MILITARY BOUNDARIES
AS OF BLJULY 1965.
Corps boundary
Special zone boundary
Divi sion boundary
Hop Tac area
'A. ? M
Sara
Pakse?
ong
? [CORPS
7-utok.. Da..Nang
legt=
Nd, An -
(Wing Ngai
Mo Doc.
? K 0
/ 1.
f-Duc CI? 0 s
Pliekt City
ig.hon
Mang Yang Pass
Route .
Qui Nhon
Qui Nhon
?Pgc.9: II CORPS
uy Hoa '
- -r -
25th Div.
?.flo Duc
? \ Phuoc Binh
0
? oc
? T A Y B H
O .e
'416"B Ntiq 0PLIOniA:
E-1?5,../C"?)n THANH
`,? tIonsg
A
MO VIOli's7;
K 1EN
P H cOaoN. (L;an.
Long ?
6;.
PHNOM P
?Silianou e Div
0,K nvut Cha,
Rearn-
?
Duong Dong \ ?
?11 DO PHU
OUOC
SN
: Rach Di
St
hon Thiel
ivPhan Thief
Tan Bien Hoa AirIBbse
z 111 CORPS
igna Tfang
A, 'N
Phan Rang
Vu ng Tau
au,te Zo?ye (VNN)
,ritA DINH
Phu Vinti?,
, 7 a Div
VINH.
YkH
inn,Loi?-"' Phu My
-IV CORPS
050t4 PAMIANG
G(LF OF
S I .1 I*
, Quan Lon
)0
21,1
? t?-?' N
Y
?OUNDANY KKKKKKK NTATION IS
NOT NEC MMMMM ILT AUTNORITA TiVe
? Con Son (Poulo Condore)
4."C-014. son
('ON SON
65(171F1 7
oJ
0 25 50 75 100 Kilornete,
IT Kies
650701 8
47814
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5 1
THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Twenty-seven Guam-based 8-52 jet bombers
of the Strategic Air Command delivered more than
500 tons of bombs yesterday against a suspected
Viet Cong concentration area at Mang Yang Pass
along lateral Route 19 near the Pleiku - Binh Dinh
Province border. The primary objective was to support
a' ,len-battalion ARVN clearing operation along
Route 19 from the port of Qui Nhon inland to the
II Corps headquarters at Pleiku. ARVN units have
thus far failed to encounter guerrilla opposition,
suggesting that the raid may have achieved con-
siderable success in driving Viet Cong units from
ambush positions along the strategic highway. A
supply convoy carrying food, fuel, and ammunition
reportedly arrived safely at Pleiku from Qui Nhon
via Route 19 today--the fist time in nearly two
months that such a trip has been possible..
2. Communist guerrillas simultaneously at-
tacked five government outposts yesterday near the
district capital of Son Ha, 350 miles northeast
of Saigon, in coastal Quang Ngai Province. One of
the outposts was reportedly overrun, with undeter-
mined casualties. Government defenders at the other
four outposts apparently held their ground. No
further details have been received.
3. Mortar attacks were reported yesterday
against a beleaguered government paramilitary camp
at Duc Co, in the northwestern region of central
Pleiku Province, and against an ARVN regimental
headquarters of Phu My, 25 miles southeast of Sai-
gon, in Phuoc Tuy Province. Friendly casualties
in both engagements were believed to be light.
4. Viet Cong saboteurs during the week end
blew up seven bridges and erected three road blocks
along Route 15 between Bien boa air base, near Sai-
gon, and the port city of Vung Tau, 35 miles south-
east of the capital. Long stretches of the highway
were closed to military and civilian traffic as a
result.
18 July 1965
I-1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5 1
5. Two platoons of US marines on a routine
patrol mission eight miles south of Da Nang air
base were ambushed last night by a Communist force
of undetermined strength. Eleven Viet Cong were
killed in the fire fight that ensued,.. Friendly
casualties were described only as "light." The
marines were supported by artillery concentrations
and tactical air strikes.
6. A Viet Cong terrorist reportedly escaped
after throwing a hand grenade at the quarters of
an American Special Forces adviser in Phan Thiet,
the capital of Binh Thuan Province, 100 miles north-
east of Saigon yesterday. There were no injuries.
The official Vietnamese news agency announced
yesterday that four Vietnamese were killed and 20
wounded early last week by a terrorist grenade
thrown into a crowded tea room at Da Nang.
7. Four USAF F-100 Supersabres yesterday
bombed and strafed a large Viet Cong encampment
15 miles southwest of Saigon's Tan Son Nhdt air-
port, near the capital suburb of Cholon. Forward
air controllers reported a "large" number of Viet
Cong killed, 30 buildings destroyed, 8 damaged,
and 10 gun emplacements destroyed.
P. The 52nd Ranger battalion has completed
a sweep of the area in Binh Duong Province where
an estimated Viet Cong battalion attacked an ARVN
regimental headquarters and a subordinate infantry
battalion on 15 July. No contact was made with
the enemy. Official casualty figures for the 15
July engagement are 69 killed (2 US), 73 wounded
(4 US), and 26 missing. Four M-113 armored person-
nel carriers were destroyed and five damaged. An
estimated 100 Viet Cong killed and wounded were
reportedly carried away.
9. Elements of the 2nd ARVN Division killed
19 Viet Cong, captured six, and detained ten suspects
18 July 1965
1-2
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5 1
during a large-scale search-and-destroy operation
conducted on 14-15 July in Binh Thuan Province.
Three government soldiers were killed and one
wounded.
10. MACV's military reports for 15 and 16
July show a total of 106 Communist-initiated
incidents, 22 of which occurred during the 48-
hour reporting period. Sixty- and 81-mm. mortar
fire was placed on a district town in Phuoc Long
Province, on ARVN troop concentrations in Phuoc
Tuy and Binh Duong provinces, and on Regional and
Popular Forces outposts in Long An and An Xuyen
provinces. Mine detonations against a civilian
bus in Binh Dinh Province, and against government
troops and convoys in Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, and
Long An provinces resulted in friendly casualties
of four killed and 21 wounded. Small-scale ter-
rorism, hamlet entry and harassment, small arms
harassing fire, and sabotage of communication cen-
ters continued throughout the countryside.
11. US and Vietnamese air strikes against
Viet Cong targets in the four corps tactical zones
of South Vietnam on 15-16 July resulted in an
estimated 390 guerrilla's killed, 178 structures
destroyed, 112 structures damaged, and two sampans
destroyed.
18 July 1965
1-3
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-2-5
II, POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. A government order suspending three Saigon
daily newspapers,coming on the heels of the killing of
inveterate coup plotter Colonel Pham NgoC Thao, may
arouse further animosity in Vietnamese Catholic refugee
circles. Among the three papers affected was Xay
Dung, a mouthpiece for the more militant northaqi ref-
ugee priests; the other papers were Chinh Luan, pub-
lished by Dang Van Sung, a northern ni-ViTT-Foliti-
cian close to former Premier Quat, and Tien, also a
political publication. According to Psychological
Warfare Minister Dinh Trinh Chinh, the papers were
suspended for printing "harmful stories" concerning
the alleged "sacking" of rice stores in Hue and Da
Nang by government-sponsored youth vigilantes. Xay
Dung received double the suspension of the other-TV?
papers--20 as opposed to 10 days--for an editorial
campaign attacking the government for inability to
cope with "lawlessness."
2. Some militant Catholic sources
have already questioned the government's terse an-
nouncement that Colonel Thao died of wounds received
when he was ambushed by government troops about 12
miles northeast of Saigon. These Catholics maintain
that Thao was arrested while eating in a monastery
about 10 miles from Saigon and shot.
Thao was first wounded
by some of his own followers, presumably seeking
the reward offered by the government for his capture.
This Account alleges that Thao was subsequently ap-
prehended by police and Military Security Service
agents alerted to his presence in a village where
he had sought a priest to administer last rites.
He was reportedly then shot in the head while trying
to escape government detention, and died shortly
afterward. Although the government version may con-
tinue to be questioned by Catholic circles, there is
so far no threat by Catholic extremists to mount a
public protest.
18 July 1965
50X1
50X1
G /IV
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
gnvi
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
3. a conversation held early this
month between American delegates of the Fellowship
of Reconciliation and South Vietnamese Buddhist
leaders suggest that Tri Quang, and possibly other
influential Vietnamese Buddhists, are weighing
their attitudes not only toward the new government.
but toward the war in general. At that meeting,
the Buddhist leaders reportedly spoke ambiguously
about the alternatives of peace and further escala-
tion of the war, and of the possibility of survival
under Communism.
4
remarks of Quang in which he claimed
that war-weariness was again increasing as the
bombings of North Vietnam failed to reduce the
fighting in the South, and that further escalation
could drag the US into a large guerrilla war which
the Communists were better prepared to face than the
Americans. Quang allegedly stated ?that peace could
be achieved either by "rapid and powerful military
action" involving more than 250,000 US troops, or
by using religion to counter the Viet Cong in a
peaceful way. Quang claimed the latter course
would employ a host of psychological warfare methods,
and require close cooperation with the uddhists,
which?he doubted the US would accept because of its
distrust and fear of Buddhist ultranationalism.
5. Premier Ky has told Secretary McNamara
that his government's major economic problem,
after the difficult rice situation, was that of
black-market currency. The Saigon government, in
a formal meeting with the visiting US mission,
also singled out the black-market issue for special
attention. The US Embassy feels that this points
up the need for early negoti tionS, which have now
been authorized, on que tions of dollar conversion
rates, a limited free access market, and the intro-
duction of military scrip for US servicemen.
18 July 1965
11 -2
50X1
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
50X1
NORT
VIETN
104
C 141 N A
168
ng
22
6 Y N BAY Ordnance Depo
:LAOS
?
THANH-HbA
? Bridge
RONG Port Facility
GULF
1 F
PHUC THIEM Highway Bridge TONKIN
11\1THUY Port Facility
?
0
?
18
THAILAND
Sd Ba rf!:I 'Pa/
STRIKE TARGETS
ROLLING THUNDER 23
17-18 JULY 1965
0 -US Strike
Limit of Rolling Thunder 23
Armed Recce Missions
100
STATUTE MILES 650718
46784
Stor-6g-i Areas\
,
,02
c, SOUTH
VIETNAM
..--.
A 0 S
16
IC 8
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-51
III. MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH VIETNAM
1. On 17 July US Navy and Air Force planes
hit the Phuc Thien and Thanh Hoa bridges, the Ben
Thuy port facility, and the ordnance depot at Yen
Bay. The Phuc Thien bridge sustained moderate
damage, new construction on its eastern approach
was destroyed, and the highway'leading to the bridge
was cratered. One span of the Thanh Hoa bridge
was damaged and the railroad track on the west side
was reported cut. Pilots report that all bombs in
the strike at Ben Thuy landed in the target area
and caused heavy damage. The entire port area north-
east of the ferry landing was smoking and numerous
fires were noted. Fifteen rail cars were damaged
in the strike on the Yen Bay Ordnance Depot, and
at least 11 buildings were reported destroyed or
damaged.
2. On 18 July strikes by US aircraft against
fixed targets:10A the Vinh Son army barracks, the
barracks at Ban Xom Lom, and the HamIong port fa-
cilities. Pilots report numerous buildings destroyed
or damaged by all three strikes. An attack on
storage areas near My Duc was reportedly Itligtaysuc-
cessful. One A6A was reported down in the vicinity
of Ham_Rong. Rescue operations were begun immediately,
but one man was Iloted,landing in a village; while
the second was picked up by a small craft after
landing in a river. Peiping's new China News Agency
claims that two "pilots"vere captured there on this
date.
3. Day and night armed reconnaissance missions
over North Vietnam on the 17tbrInd 18th attacked
several trucks, as well as some storage buildings,
a rail line, and a radar site. No significant sight-
ings were made,however.
.18 Jyly 1965
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
R
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
5nxi
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. The joint communiqu?ssued on 17 July
following talks between Chinese leaders and the
visiting DRV economic delegation states that Pei-
ping will provide North Vietnam with grant assist-
ance in the form of equipment, supplies, and "whole
sets of installations" in the fields of national
defense and economic development. 'The language of
the communiqu?ppears designed to indicate that
Peiping and Hanoi are moving still closer together.
2. It notes that China has already given
"enormous support and assistance" and h s been "most
steadfast" in backing the MV. The new agreement
for economic and technical assistance is said to
have been granted with a view to "jointly defeating"
the US.
3. The speech by North Vietnamese Vice Premier
Hoang Van Hoan at a banquet in Peiping on 17 July
appeared calculated to convey the idea that China
has embarked on a new and larger support effort for
the DRV. Hoan declared that the Chinese people are
"unfolding" a vigorous campaign to aid Hanoi in re-
sisting the US.
4. Soviet Premier Kosygin's most recent de-
nunciation of US actions in Vietnam was relatively
aggressive andhardlhitting, but did not appreciably
advance Moscow's standard commitment to assist the
DRV. Kosygin concluded a 17 July speech in Riga
with a harsh indictment of the "extremely dangerous"
course of US policy. Reflecting Soviet sensitivity
to reports that the US is planning a significant in-
crease in its military assistance to Saigon, the
Soviet premier warned against "raising the stakes"
and included a vague threat that "every new aggres-
sive act" will be met with appropriate resistance
"by the forces of national liberation and the Social-
ist states."
18 July 1965
V-1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A0021000200021-5-
5. Kosygin also reiterated Moscow's full sup-
port for North Vietnamese Pham Van Dong's four-point
formula advanced on 8 April as the possible "basis"
for a.settlement, and again stressed that the USSR
and other Socialist countries would furnish Hanoi
with "all the aid necessary to repel aggresgton'.'"
Kosygin'i3 strong speech may have been designed, in
part, to counter expected Chinese accusations that
his recent meeting with. Ambassador Harriman indicates
further Soviet attempts to find "a way out" for the
US' in Vietnam. Pro-Chinese Albania has already levied
this charge.
6. In an apparent effort to balance his remarks,
however, Kosygin bemoaned the fact that the Vietnam
situation "prevents the relaxation of international
tension," and stressed that Moscow's policies include
"actions on behalf of disarmament" and world peace -
as well as "firm defense" against "imperialist aggres-
siOn." 50X1
50X1
V-2
18 July 1965
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/02/07: CIA-RDP79T00472A002100020002-5