VIETNAM WAR ‘Larger Forces Required’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31151, 30 August 1966, Page 17

VIETNAM WAR ‘Larger Forces Required’

(N Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SAIGON, August 29.

American troops in Vietnam would be doubled to 600,000 within 18 months under the latest thinking of leading

military strategists in Saigon, the “New York Times” reported today.

The strategists under-take-the long-range planning of the United States war effort in Vietnam. They believe that significantly larger force levels are required, regardless of whether North Vietnam continues on its current course of form-

ing division-size units in search of big victories or decides to break up into much smaller elements and revert to numerous hit-and-run harassing attacks all over the country. Concurrent with the projected build-up of ground forces, the United States Air Force expects to add about five new squadrons of tactical fighter-bombers to the 18 it now has in South Vietnam. Two-pronged Effort The strategists are looking toward a two-pronged effort whereby up to a half of the United States troops would devote most of their efforts to ambitious so-called “nationbuilding” projects throughout the densely-populated areas of South Vietnam. The remainder of the force would sweep longer, harder and in larger units into the principal enemy base areas. The preponderant-weight of the military effort to date, however, has gone into searching for and engaging the enemy’s main combat elements.