SALVADOR REBELS MAKE GAINS AND U.S. ADVISERS ARE GLUM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001502580033-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 31, 2008
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: November 4, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/01/31: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01502580033-8
THE NEW YORK TIMES - 4 November 1983
Salvador Rebels i1ake Gains
And U.S. Advisers Are Glum
SAN SALVADOR, Nov. 3, Leftist dives are making one bell of a chat
insurgents have taken the initiative iri langs."
the four-year-Old civil war. killing The advisers, many of whom say
more than 804 Salvadoran soldiers in they are discouraged and anxious to
the last two months. capturing 400 and finish their assignments here, have ex-
greatly agement with' the
extending the country's con- apressed
rmy's inability to overcome its con-
tested zone, according to United States mand problems and with setbacks to an
railhead dvisersi~ere. operation in San Vicente Planned and
The advisers said that since the sum monitored by the Americans-
'mer.. when they interpreted a lull in guerrillas have the initiative diThe fighting as s a sign that the army had im- now, no one can question that," one ad-
Froved its fighting ability. the gumore viler said. Another just shook his head
las had launched attacks against more in agreement when asked if he would
than 60 towns from central El Salvador recommend that the United States pur-
tn tnP Annduran border. sue a political solutionmore diligently.
The fighting since septemoer, u-Cy past,
sers cntr-1
said, has affected nine of the country's cif In the the army's 2military advi
4,000 men for staying !
14 provinces. in their barracks and not patrolling the
? Army's Problems Persist countryside. Now the complaint is that
while they are in the field, they are
The advisers added that the incur- staying in one place and not pursuing
is often met little resistance from or ambu-
the The army, they the 7,000 guerrillas setting
tr Salvadoran Army. sties.
said, seemed to be struggling with the army's tactical. deficiencies
.same problems that have plagued et havThe e been aggravated by political ten-
over the last four years: low morale, lions within the high command. Amen-
weak logistical support and divisions can Embassy officials were hoping this
among its commanders. _ week for changes that would eliminate
Some troops have fled their positions some of the ineffective field and staff
without putting up a fight. the advisers commanders as well as some men con.
said- As a result, the advisers are now netted with death squad activities.
J painting s'cony picture of the coon-
But the only changes in orders issue6-
They said A.a f.v..t- iw---- _-_ . . _ ~_....r:..:..a rn u.va-
Vcuu as .r. - ? -- _
September, guerrilla forces had to take
a roundabout route from their bases in
the central Province in the east. Now they
Morazact vrovince
can move virtually nimpeded straight
across northern El Salvador-
GuerrIas more mobile
Moreover, military, advisers said,
.the guerrillas are more unified, have,
better intelligence and are much more
mobile than they were before the sum-
mer, moving in daylight by trucks
ni
t on
their po
gh
rather wan at
-_--- a. ~.
'They sure are conducting them- advisersaid.
selves in avery effective maniac: ' OIIe
b
"
ve
The su
American adviser. said.
The problem was complicated when
two companies sent to reinforce the
troops in Tejutepeque were ambushed
,onthewaY.
A simitiar sitution evolved on Mon-
day in Ciudad Barrios, a town of 20,000
in the eastern province of San Miguel.
The town was defended by some 80 na-
tional guardsmen, who fled six hours
after the attack began and unwittingly
headed toward guerrilla territory.
"it doesn't look like there was much
effort to keep the place," another mill-
,taryadvisersaid.
RehdorcemenftpbmW Down
Two companies sent to reinforce the
national guardsmen were pinned down
by an ambush less than a mile from
from their starting point. The compa-
nies were from a battalion that re-
cently returned from six weeks. _of
training at the new American-staffed
trainingbase in Honduras.
Military advisers are further wor-
ried because the 'guerrillas are slowly
encroaching on San Vicente, which has
been bill ed as the make-it-0r~reak it
I, example of what the Salvadoran nih-
Lary is capable of doing.
The San Vicerte program,
American. military designed to show that the army could
rid a protect the p popula on. While the Gov-
ernment undertook redevelopment
programs.
There have been signs of improve-
rent in San Vicente since the plan
began in June, but already two towns
have been attacked and many of guerrillas who left before'the offensive:
began .have returned. .
doran F rmy umw --
visers has been two recent battles in
tr a distinct nc
which the to > showed
t strong res~stence
and had difficulty 3n sending fo -
rents. Sundaythe guerrillas . attacked
- On u . a town of 8,000 people.
Tejtepe~l miles north of the capital. The
town some 37 was miles by 180 soldiers,
many of whom fled to the nearby town
of flobasco and changed into civilian
clothes, according to military advisers.
"A 180-can unit in a defense position
to hold out if they have
bl
e
should be a
sitions and stay and' fight." one
Approved For Release 2008/01/31: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01502580033-8