pproved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00010553 SC No. 074?4/68 'CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Directorate of Intelligence 0 February 1033 � INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM The Situation in South Vietnam No. 16 . ----------- � Vs 6f 12.3u P M, gul The Viot Cong appear to be maintaining strong pressure against government security installations in the Saigon area notwithstanding the initiation of a massive allied clearing operatiowthroughout the entire city. There have been no further indica- tions of an imminent large-scale Communist offensive against the capital. Heavy fighting continnes for the sixth consecu- tive day in Hue, while to the north, US forces have reported three major contacts with battalion- . size Communist forces near Quang Tri City. Eidewhere in I Corps, the military situation remains relatively quiescent. No further significant North Vietnamese initiatives have been reported against the US combat base at hhe Sanh. .In central Vietnam, allied forces appear to have stabilized the security situation in the troubled provincial capitals of Kontum, Pleiku, nd an Me Thuots although the cities of Tuy Hon and Dalt are continuing to. experience significant enemy pressuie. . While the eleven provinces of III Corps remain generally quiet, Viet Cong forces in the delta con- tinue to pose a, major threat to Ft number of important pepulalation centers and government military installa- tions.. MO.. � 14141,r, ik011y 10'1,3* 1440 1,1E= MOO.5126" COPY Lynion B. Johnson Libr L6." .I.SEP_1986_,..._ Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00010553 Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00010553 � � ' 1. .There are unconfirmed press reports that On estimated 400 Communist attackers early today � .overran a police substation in Saigon and drove police out o: a nearby precinct headquarters which they had set ablaze. The Saigon police reportedly abandoned their Sth Pricinet Headquarters in the southern (Chalon) sector of the capital and with- drew. northward toward the center of the city. . . 2. Official reporting from the field has con- firmed additional small-scale Viet Cong harassing attacks against Saigon municipal police units and installations in the central residential area's 3rd Precinct pid in the 6th and 7th Precincts in Cholon. 3. *Viet Cong elements thus far contacted in the Saigon attacks hive been described.as wearinWa *ariety of outfits ranging from Buddhist robes and civilian attire tosARVN, Regional Force, Chieu Hol, and jupglo'green uniforms. � � 4.. Weanwhile, an 18-battalion AV N task force, supported by National Police units, has begun a massive house-to-house search of the entire capital city. US troops have been deployed around the. perimeter oc Saigon to screen the ARVN security sweep within the city proper. � 5.. There was reported to be an abundant supply of rico and bread in the shops of Saigon and Cholon as of 4 February. Some merchants, however, are ap- parently.not selling their rice, probably in the expectation that prices will continue to soar. It is estimated that the Saigon populace can endure to the 9th or 13th of February without an inflow of food. I Corps 6. Action here continues to be centered in the northern provinces. US forces reported three major contacts�each with an enemy battalion--near Quang Tvi on 5 February. It appears the Communists were routed In two' of the contacts, north and oast of the COPY Lynion B. Johnson Lib) Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00010553-- - 00,001�00 0 Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00010553 city. No results are available on thu third. US - observers report morale in Quang Tri in poor. Prom-- inont Vietnamese officials, including the province chief; are apparently moving their families out of city. Y. Elsewhere, there have-been no major changes reported since the 7:00 A.M. Sitrep. Unconfirmed � press reports indicate US Marino progress in Hue on 5 February continued to be slow in bitter street fighting against determined Communist forces. I/_Corps. 8. In the western highlands, allied reaction 'forces oontinue to press swooping operations against enemy concentrations near the provincial capitals of Kontum, Pleiku and Ban Me Thuot. No major de4 velopments have been reported since the 7:00 A.M. Sitrep. Along the coast, Tuy flea was again attacked by about a battalion of Viet Cons &wing the day -of 5 February according to press reports. The mountain resort city of Dalt is also said to be Under renewed enemy pressure. � III Cprps, � L. American observers in the area report no new outbreaks of Communist activity as of the early evening of .5 February. Enemy forces still pose a threat. to some provincial capitals including An Leo and Phu Cuong. � � IV Corps . 10.- The Viet COng offensive seems to have abated somewhat during 3 February in the Delta prov- inces. However, substantial Communist forces remain in the immediate vicinity of some administrative and population centers and US observers on the scene ex- pect renewed attacks at My The, Tra Vinh and Hach Gin.* Last night, an enemy battalion attacked Go Cong and VC gunners shelled installations near Can Tho. Both areas were quiet by daybreak. Elsewhere, there was sporadic sniper fire in several cities and scat- tered resistance around the outskirts. Although much of the city has been ravaged, Vinh Long now appearato be firmly in friendly hands. ��000Y � Approved for Release: 2019/0.4717E00010553 .� COPY Lyrdon B. Johnson Li ar ; � :Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00010553 Status of Forces 11. Although the Communist Tet offensive ap- veare to have lost a measure of its countrywide.- momentumesubutantia/ enemy forces still threaten .- population centers and allied positions in some parts ,of Vietnam. Available evidence places significant' concentrations of enemy troops near Quang Tri City. Da Nang, and Quang Ngai City in the northern prov- inces; Dak To. Kontun and Pleihu in the vestorn high- lands; in the III Corps provinces of Dinh Duong; Ednh Long and Dion flea; and in the northeastern provinces of the pelta. Enemy dispositions in the Saigon area are unclear. And enemy strength in the ithe Sanh/DN2 area remain substantial. 32. Should the Communists elect to initiate a fresh round of major attache, these are likely to be focused on the areas mentioned above. �.� � V, ...VA swim � 0. id COPY 416 � !ft � � 1A:1 n 7Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00010553 � � � �

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THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM NO 16 - SAIGON - QUANG TRI CITY - KHE SANH - COMMUNIST OFFENSIVE - CHOLON - VIET CONG - ARVN - RICE - FOOD - MORALE TET OFFENSIVE -