S. Vietnamese Desertions Climb Steadily

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30916, 24 November 1965, Page 30

S. Vietnamese Desertions Climb Steadily

GV.Z. Press Astociation —Copyright)

SAIGON, Nov. 23. Desertions from South Vietnam’s Armed Forces have climbed steadily, the Associated Press reports.

The problem is acutely embarrassing to Vietnamese military’ commanders, who are reluctant to make the figures public.

Other sources say there were 87,000 deserters during the first 10 months of 1965 and 72,000 in 1964.

In October, the desertion rate was 17.9 a 1000 compared with 11.2 a 1000 for October. 1964.

The rising desertion rate results partly from new Government efforts to expand the Armed Forces.

About 60 per cent of the deserters are draftees who usually go “over the hill” after training and before they are assigned to units. Desertions in the Vietnamese Armed Forces have always been high. Some critics say the Government has not made enough effort to give the troops regular home leave and also has been too lenient in the enforcement of penalties for desertion. War-weary Vietnamese sol-

diers, some of whom have been fighting for 20 years, often take off for home for a few weeks and then return tn their units. In Home Guard Or they may show up in such militia units as the Regional Forces or the Popular Forces, as the home guard is ■ known. The desertion rate is highI est in the Popular Forces, particularly in contested areas. Last month it was 29.1 for every 1000 men. i When the Viet Cong move I into a village, mass desertions for long periods are not uncommon among the Popular Forces. Not One-sided The problem is not one sided. While enemy strength has been growing, apparently because of increased infiltration from North Vietnam, there are signs the Viet Cong desertion rate is mounting too. American officials have been saying for months that the enemy is facing a serious morale problem. i The Vietnamese Government encourages Viet Cong deserters to defect to its side ' by operating “open arms

centres” to welcome former Viet Cong. The present official strength of South Vietnam’s armed Forces is 550.000, of whom 290,000 are regulars. When the national police ■ and combat youth groups are ! added, the figure approaches 700.000. i Many units, however, are ■ considerably larger on paper than in fact. Pay Rise

Some regular units are 20 .to 30 per cent below normal i strength because of desertions !and casualties. Others may . run as much as 30 per cent to 50 per cent below official figures. In an effort to boost the strength and effectiveness of the Armed Forces, the Government recently granted a 25 per cent pay increase. The Premier, General Nguyen Cao Ky. who is also commander of the Air Force, has also sought to provide more and better housing for the troops. These measures were widely hailed as steps in the right direction, but so far they have not stemmed the tide.