THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM NO. 14 (AS OF 6:00 P. M. EST)

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02150028
• Document Creation Date: January 28, 2019

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
4 February 1068,
/1/1L j2
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The situation in South Vietnam No. 14
(-As oi OThSLT
I Corps.
1. With the exception of Hue, where heavy
fighting continues, the situation in the northern
provinces remains generally quiet--particularly in
the recently troubled areas of Quang Tri City, Da
Nang, Hol An, Tam Ky, and Quang Ngai,
2. Hue: The situation in Hue remains tense,
%ow as allied reaction forces continue to press air and
ground assaults ngainst an estimated three Viet Cong
companies entrenched within the walled citadel area
of the ancient imperial capital. VS Marines are
also engaged in house-to-house fighting along tho
banks of the Perfume River, Hue's principal waterway.
The citadel airstrip apparently remains in ARVN hands,
but i not operational. Two US Marine convoys en
route to Hue from Phu Bai have encountered heavy enemy
sniper fire along Route 1, thus delaying their com-
mitment as reinforcements,to the provincial capital
defenses.
IT Corps
3. The main. Communist thrust in II Corps con-
tinues to be directed against Kontum, Plciku, and
Ban Me
Thud; in the western highlands and against
Dalai and Tuy ilea in the coastal provinces, although
no major new fighting has been reported since our
last situation report. Enemy still are being re-
ported in the vicinity of those cities. Phan Thiet,
which was previously under attack by three Viet Cong
battalions, has been cleared of enemy forces.
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The Saigon Area
� 4. Althomgh the security situntion in some
areas of the capital city has stabilized, there con-
tinue to be numerous reports of small-scale Viet
Cong activity. The National Police headquarters
compound came under heavy mortar and automatic wunp-
ongs fire on 4 February. However, National police
director General Loan stated at 10 P.M. local Saigon
time on 4 February that the capital city was quiet
and the situation in surrounding Gia Dinh Province
seemed to be under control.
5. South Vietnamese forces apparently nave
planned a major operation to
begin on the morning
of 5 February to clear Viet Cong remnants from Saigon
Tho multi-battalion sweep is to include a thorough
house-to-house search and will bu controlled by
senior officers of the Joint General Staff, the
National Police and the ARVN III Corps headquarters.
Possibly as many as 16 battalions of Vietnamese
marines, rangers, paratroopers, army forces and
police are committed.
6. There is no confirmation of the indications,
noted in the 8:30 A.M. Sitrop, that the VC 9th Divi-
sion may have moved closer to Saigon. US military
officials in Saigon, however, report they have some
evidence from prisoners that At least elements of the
:regiment; of the Elth were involved in the initial
assault on the city.
Other 111 Corps
7. The eleven provinces or III Corps have re-
ported no significant changes in the allied or enemy
situation since 1800 Hours 4 February Saigon time.
IV Corps
S. Multibattalion Viet Cong troop concentra-
tions are continuing to apply havey pressure against
friendly areas in and around the provincial capitals
of Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Vinh Long City, and Cao Lanh.
The district capital of Duc Thanh, in sa Dec province,
is also reported to he under heavy enemy mortar and
ground attack. Oa the positive side, however, allied
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forces have generally cleared major enemy elements
out of the important delta cities of Can The, My
Tho, and Den Tre.
Rho Sanh
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9. A late report indicates that fighting has
broken out in the Khe Sanh area. At 4:20 A.M. on
the morning of 5 February (Vietnam time) Hill 861,
one of the main defonso points for Rho Sanh somo
4 1/2 kilometers to the northwest, received a ground
attack by an unknown size enemy force. Contact is
said to he continuing.
10. Khe Sanh base has also received an unknown
number of rocket rounds.
Threat to Captive Americans
. _ . . _ _
11. The Communist's Liberation Radio on the
morning of .5 February Vietnam time carried a state�
ment denouncing an alleged allied plan to try a
nUmber of Communist soldiers captured in the recent
fighting. It warned that if they were killed, the
Communist National Liberation Front "will take
retaliatory action against detained. Americans."
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