Far Bloodier War Expected By U.S.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31239, 10 December 1966, Page 16

Far Bloodier War Expected By U.S.

(New Zealand Press Association! WASHINGTON, December 9. The United States expected a far bloodier war in Vietnam, it was learned today, the Associated Press reported.

The indications are that the Pentagon prepared for the worst, anticipating perhaps 10,000 dead this year and five times as many wounded. Casualties have been much lower although still running into staggering numbers—more than 4600 killed and 30,000 wounded during the last 11 months. A top source said that when the Pentagon began planning the big military build-up in South-east Asia statistical studies were conducted which projected United States losses at 200 casualties per day a 100,000 men. The figure, derived from experience in World War II and the Korean conflict, was needed to determine possible replacement and medical demands. 10 Combat Deaths Simply stated, the calculation showed the United States could expect for each 100,000 men in Vietnam to sustain daily 10 combat deaths, 50 wounded, and 140 “nonhostile” casualties resulting from accident, disease or other causes. Actual figures have averaged three killed, 14 wounded, and 75 non-hostile losses a day a 100,000 men, this source said. Averages are rather meaningless, however, when it comes to describing the toll of life due to the war. Defence Department statistics show that since January 1, 4639 Americans have been killed in Vietnam, running the

count since January 1, 1966, to 6236 as of last Saturday. This does not include 1436 men who have died in plane and helicopter accidents, and from disease or other causes not attributable to enemy action.

A different view of Pentagon figures also shows the ratio of American combat deaths to wounded running much lower proportionately than during World War II and Korea.

The 35,538 wounded and 6236 killed in the last six years form a ratio of more than 5 to 1 . In Korea it was about 3 to 1 with 103,284 wounded and 33,629 killed in three years fighting. In World War II the ratio was more than 2 to 1: 292,000 killed, 670,800 wounded.

The major reason for Vietnam’s fewer dead than wounded perhaps lies in the nature of today’s military operations. Vietnam, in contrast with Korea and World War II is a hit-and-run type of conflict with no fixed fronts and few sustained battles. More servicemen also recover from wounds in Vietnam than was the case in the world wars and Korea. The Pentagon says that because of better and more readily available medical treatment, 98.4 per cent of the G.l.s wounded in Vietnam recover. This compares with 97.5 per cent during Korea, 95.5 per cent in World War II and 92 per cent in World War I. In Vietnam today there are 15 hospitals, plus the hospital ship U.S.S. Repose stationed offshore near Da Nang.