DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001000090016-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 3, 2008
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: January 18, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

 Approved For Release 2008/11/03: CIA-RDP85T00875R001000090016-1
Top Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTI?LL IGLNCL
Developments in Indochina
State Dept. review completed
25X1
Top Secret
17-7
18 Jant.a:--v? 19'73
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DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA
(Informattion as of 1500)
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
Soviet diplomats in Vientiane are pushing for
an early cease-fire in Laos.
LAOS
The Communists are increasing the pressure in
the central, panhandle.
CAMBODIA
The government is not making much progress on
Route 2.
18 January 1973
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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
In discussing last Tuesday's session of the
Vientiane peace talks, the Soviet Deputy Chief of
Mission in the Lao capital told his US counter-
part that the Soviets are interested in maintaining
substantive contacts with the US concerning a Lao
settlement. He said that Moscow expected a Vietnam
settlement soon and that this would lead to an early
cease-fire in Laos. The Soviet diplomat stated that
the two sides were not very far apart on the issues
and that their differences could probably be settled
in several negotiating sessions. These comments may
represent a bid to encourage US support for a quick
settlement.
The Soviet official spent much of his time
unsuccessfully probing US attitudes on the talks
and the issues related to them. He tried, for ex-
ample, to elicit comments on the Pathet Lao demand
for a provisional political council and the question
of a Thai troop withdrawal from Laos after a cease--
fire. For his own part, he would not be drawn out
on Soviet attitudes regarding a strengthened Inter-
national Control Commission in Laos or on the degree
of Moscow's willingness to press for the removal of
North Vietnamese tronos from Laos.
18 January 1973
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Iq
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LAOS
The Communists are increasing pressure in the
central panhandle. Enemy ground attacks and shell-
ings on 17 January dispersed two irregular bat-
talions from positions some 15 miles southeast of
Thakhek, a provincial capital on the east bank of
the Mekong. These attacks were probably carried
out by elements of several unidentified North Viet-
namese units that have been increasingly active
since they moved into the Thakhek area late last
year. They may be designed Lo divert government
attention while the North Vietnamese 29th Regiment
completes preparations for a push farther east along
Route 9 to retake Muong Phalane.
In the south, lead elements of a 3,000-man
government force have begun moving back toward
Saravane. The government troops are still too
far west of the provincial capital to meet any
strong opposition. On 17 January, they uncovered
two enemy supply caches containing over 50 tons of
ammunition, a number of heavy weapons, and large
quantities of other supplies.
18 January 1973
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,S(ml Reap
.6attanlbong
IVA01,11mliq Thom
Komponq
'Chhnann
Fiyhling C1
Romeas
CAM
Kornpong Sorn,
ODIA
Srarl j Corrnli nm1 is
Tram, K11
'Thnal Totting
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CAMBODIA
The two columns of governr:tent paratroops from
Phnom Penh and Takeo attempti;,g to reach Thnal
Totung and Svay Prey on Route i have made no prog-
ress in the past few days. The northern column is
stalled on the highway some four miles from Thnal
Totung, and the southern column is about two miles
from Svay Prey. The columns' ability to advance
has been hampered by inadequate artillery support.
To the west, Cambodian troops are continuing
sweep operations in the vicinity of Tram K'znar on
Route 3. Tram Khnar itself was shelled by the Com-
munists on 17 January. The nearby government gar-
rison at Srang is still isolated, but it has been
resupplied by air.
Badly needed supplies have also been dropped
to beleaguered Cambodian soldiers at Romeas in
Kompong Chhnang Province. The 200-man government
force that was airlifted on 3.6 January to a position
a few miles northwest of Romeas subsequently ran
into strong opposition and was driven back after
day-long fighting. Other government forces from
the Route 5 area, now totaling seven battalions,
are continuing their cautious advance toward
Rome as.
18 January 1973
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