THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001100010044-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 1, 2006
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: August 23, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

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Approved Fo.L,-Release 20i57/0?k: C1A- DP79T00826A001100010044-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM
Information as of 1600
23 August 1966
State Dept. review completed
PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
FURTHER DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT AUTHORIZED
Approved For a lease - 100010044-5
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23 August 1966
Combat activity continues light in South Viet-
nam. However, a US freighter struck a Communist
mine in one of the two main sea channels serving
Saigon, and US troops operating in Quang Nam Prov-
ince in the north discovered a battalion-sized enemy
base camp. Reports continue to be received of Com-
munist plans to disrupt South Vietnam's coming elec-
tion.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
US Marines participating in Operation ALLEGHENY lo-
cated an enemy arms base camp in Quang Nam Province
(Para. 1). US units in Operation JOHN PAUL JONES
discovered a small Communist arms cache northwest
of Tuy Hoa (Para. 2). Three South Korean battalions
began search-and-destroy Operation POLE STAR in
northern Quang Ngai Province today (Para. 3). Op-
eration COLORADO concluded in Quang Tin and Quang
Nam provinces with a total of 514 Communist troops
killed (Para. 4). Viet Cong guerrillas sank a US
freighter in one of Saigon's river channels (Paras.
6-7).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
Reports of Viet Cong activities aimed at disrupting
the forthcoming election for a constitutional as-
sembly continue to be received from various areas
in South Vietnam (Paras. 1-4). Some tentative es-
timates of the size of the voter turnout on elec-
tion day have been received (Para. 5). A Buddhist
effort to boycott the election appears more certain,
although it is not yet clear whether techniques
other than persuasion will be employed (Paras. 6-7).
III. Military Developments in North Vietnam:
There is nothing of significance to report.
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IV. Other Communist Military Developments:
There is nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: There
is nothing of significance to report.
23 August 1966
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SOUTH VIETNAM
CURRENT SITUATION
23 AUGUST 1966
) ?5 50 75 100 Miles
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Kontum
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I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. One battalion of US Marines began Operation
ALLEGHENY yesterday. This search-and-destroy opera-
tion is being conducted in Quang Nam Province in an
area about 15 miles southwest of Da Nang. Shortly
after the operation began, a battalion-size Commu-
nist base camp was found which included 30 houses--
each with a 15-man capacity--and two 60-man class-
rooms; large hillside caves in the area could be
used as bomb shelters. During the search of the
camp, one US Marine platoon was attacked by an un-
known number of Viet Cong. Fourteen Americans were
wounded before allied aircraft forced the attacking
enemy force to retreat. US reinforcements are
scheduled to reenter the area and destroy the base.
The 70th Viet Cong Battalion has operated in the
vicinity of the base in the past, and there have
been several recent reports of a new, unidentified
battalion in this area.
2. US Operation JOHN PAUL JONES continues in
coastal Phu Yen Province without significant contact
with Communist forces. However, elements of the
US 101st Airborne Division located an enemy weapons
cache in an area about 30 miles northwest of Tuy
Hoa. Among the captured items were 16 cases of
hand grenades, an unknown quantity of 60-mm. mortar
rounds, a small quantity of bangalore torpedoes,
and a US Army radio set.
3. Three battalions of South Koreans began
Operation POLE STAR today in the coastal flatlands
of northern Quang Ngai Province. This clearing op-
eration is being conducted in a broad area on each
side of Route 1 between Quang Ngai and Chu Lai.
The 21st North Vietnamese Army Regiment--with a
strength of 2,000 men--is reported to be in the
area.
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4. US search-and-destroy Operation COLORADO,
conducted in Quang Nam and Quang Tin provinces by
three battalions of US Marines, ended yesterday.
In the operation, which began on 5 August, 25
Americans were killed and 177 wounded. A total of
514 Communist troops were killed and 54 captured.
These cumulative totals include enemy casualties
reported by seven South Vietnamese battalions which
participated in this operation for ten days. Dur-
ing this time, South Vietnamese casualties totaled
50 killed and 203 wounded.
5. Operation CASTINE, a search-and-destroy
operation being conducted in Binh Duong Province
by three battalions of the US 1st Infantry Division,
ended yesterday without having established signfi-
cant contact with enemy forces operating in the
area. There were no American casualties. Commu-
nist losses include two killed, and two weapons
and 100 tons of rice captured.
Viet Cong Sink US Freighter
6. A Communist mine today sank the US freighter
Baton Rouge Victory, operated by the US Military
Sea Transport Service, in one of Saigon's two supply
channels 22 miles south of Saigon. Seven crewmen,
all believed to be American, were killed in the
blast. Three others from the 45-man crew were re-
ported wounded.
7. Baton Rouge Victory sank after being maneu-
vered to the north bank of the river. However, the
main channel of the river remains open. The freighter,
carrying general cargo, was substituted at the last
minute for passage upriver in place of an explosive-
carrying ship.
23 August 1966
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II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Reports of Viet Cong activities aimed at
disrupting the forthcoming election for a consti-
tutional assembly continue to be received from
various parts of South Vietnam.
2. In central Vietnam, these reports range
from antielection propaganda and seizure of voters'
identity cards in Thua Thien and Quang Ngai provinces
to the movement of a well-armed Viet Cong battalion
to the vicinity of populated areas in Quang Nam
Province. Other reports of varying re-
liability include the formation of Viet Cong teams
to assassinate candidates, sabotage of the polls,
and planned demonstrations. A US official in Da
Nang, however, has commented that neither the urban
nor the rural Vietnamese populace in the area has
yet been noticeably affected by Viet Cong anti-
election activity. In his opinion, a Buddhist boy-
cott is the most serious threat to a large turnout
at the polls in the city of Da Nang, while Viet Cong
intimidation would probably be more effective among
rural inhabitants.
3. In Ninh Thuan Province, Viet.Cong cadres
have received training in methods to upset the
11 September elections,
Techniques covered
include various methods of persuasion against voting,
the use of explosives, and the interception of
ballot boxes.
4. In the delta area south of Saigon, esti-
mates of Viet Cong intimidation and voter interest
vary from province to province. US observers have
reported evidence of Viet Cong attempts to dis-
credit the election in Chuong Thien and An Giang
provinces, but have assessed the Viet Cong as having
a greater capability for restricting the voter
23 August 1966
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turnout in the former province than in the latter.
interest in the election is high in
Dinh Tuong and Kien Hoa provinces, with stiff
competition looming up among Catholic and Cao Dai
candidates. However,
voter interest appears to be much
lower in neighboring Go Cong Province, where
there is some concern about. Viet Cong action
on election day.
5. Although there is still ample time for
events to have a significant effect on the size
of the voter turnout on election day, some tenta-
tive estimates have been made. Phan Tan Chuc,
a Saigon University lawyer and a former minister
of education in the Huong government, has esti-
mated that the Buddhist boycott will be quite suc-
cessful in central Vietnam, with only 30 or 40
percent of the electorate voting. He expects
that about 50 percent of registered voters will
cast ballots in the southern provinces, and pos-
sibly 60 percent in Saigon. The US Embassy
has commented separately that an over-all turn-
out of 50 percent of registered voters on elec-
tion day will constitute a significant achievement
by the government. Some 73 percent of the elec-
torate voted in last year's local elections, which
included full Buddhist participation and which
was considered far less important by both the Saigon
government and the Viet Cong.
Buddhist Election Boycott Appears More Certain
6. The official text of a recent Buddhist In-
stitute communique-, obtained yesterday by the US
Embassy, directly urges Buddhist followers not to
vote, rather than merely "reminding" them of their
right not to vote as previously reported from un-
official sources. In addition, militant Thich
Phap Sieu, recently named acting chairman of the
General Association of Monks and Nuns, yesterday
emphasized to newsmen the intentions of the Bud-
dhist movement to boycott the forthcoming elec-
tion.
23 August 1966
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7. It is not yet clear whether the militants
will attempt methods other than persuasion to in-
crease the effectiveness of such a boycott. A mod-
erate Buddhist monk recently in touch with US of-
ficials said he felt that the militants were
planning "something" but did not know exactly what
it was. He felt, however, that they would not
dare to resume street demonstrations.
Yester ay, P hap Sieu to
newsmen t a t some monks and nuns had recently
pledged that they were ready to die to "preserve
their faith and freedom."
23 August 1966
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