MILITARY SITUATION THROUGHOUT INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200220001-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 7, 1998
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 6, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

S u
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NSC BRIEFING 6 April 1954
I. Whatever outcome at Dien Bien Phu,
Tonkin delta is key area.
II. Viet Minh strength at all time high;
20,000 regulars - 55,000 auxiliaries
A. Daily routine of ambushing French,
cutting Haiphong ?- Hanoi route.
B. Viet Minh not yet exerted full
capabilities.
C. Nine regular battalions along
Hanoi-Haiphong route
III. French mobile reserves in delta about
45 in November, now depleted to 17.
A. Navarre afraid to pull out last
two paratroop battalions; may do so
after arrival of two battalions from
North Africa.
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IV. In South Vietnam, French Union regulars
total 37 battalions.
A. Viet Minh has only 10 understrength
regular battalions.
B. French tied down guarding roads
and key installations.
V. In Central Vietnam, French have 19
battalions in Operation Atlante
A. Have cleared fairly large strip
of coast. but not seriously
engaged Viet Minh.
B Operation has recently slowed.
VI. Viet Minh decision to attack Dien
Bien Phu ended-for time being main
threat to Laos.
A. Total French Union forces in Laos
are 40 battalions.
B. Viet Minh force still largely intact;
enemy regulars in all Laos total
10 battalions.
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VII Incursion of northern Cambodia last
week marks first move of organized
Viet Minh group across that country's
borders.
A. Estimated at two battalions, force
is too small to present real threat;
Viet Minh motive probably to make
political capital, prior Geneva.
B. But Viet Minh has long had about
1000 regulars and 6500 auxiliaries
operating as guerrillas.
C. Total French Union strength 15
battalions.
D. French on 2 April ordered back
to Cambodia two French Union
battalions of Cambodian recruits
that had been moved to southern
Laos.
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