MiG Bases May Be Bombed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31277, 25 January 1967, Page 13

MiG Bases May Be Bombed

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SAIGON, Jan. 24. The United States, barring a dramatic change in the direction of the war, will order the bombing of MIG jet bases in North Vietnam within the next few weeks, a highlyplaced official said yesterday, according to United Press International.

He said the proposal, described as a “slight” escalation of the air war, awaits only final approval from President Johnson. “The war could be over In one month if we could hit what we consider the key military targets in North Vietnam,” he added. Vietnam military officials want to bomb at least 75 targets now off limits. They include MiG bases, the port of

Haiphong, hydro-electric plants and dams and selected industrial centres producing war goods.

The key concern of the Administration is that China would be provoked by such attacks into joining the war. It was understood that military officials had all but convinced the President that MiG bases are “safe” targets—ones which can be attacked without danger of bringing Peking directly into the conflict. The official said Mr Johnson was expected to authorise the “selected” bombing of some and possibly all of the four key MiG bases in North Vietnam. Three are in the Hanoi area and the other near Haiphong.

A dramatic reconnaissance photograph released by the Air Force shows a continuing big build-up of Soviet-built MiG interceptors at the Kep

air base, 39 miles north-east of Hanoi. It showed 35 MiGs parked in protected ramps. The photograph also shows at least 70 anti-aircraft positions protecting the base, which is used by Russian transport planes feeding supplies to the Thai Nguyen iron and steel plan in the same region. U.S. military experts in Saigon have reluctantly conceded there will be no all-out bombing of the 75 key targets.

But they will be content if the flow of war material can be nipped at its source—along the rail, sea and highway routes by which these goods move into North Vietnam. Intelligence sources believe it takes a force of 300,000 coolies to keep Hanoi’s rail lines in repair from U.S. bombing.

The rails have been hardhit recently by U.S. pilots tak-

ing advantage of a freakish break in heavy monsoon weather that normally exists at this time of year.

In Wellington, Marshal Ky voiced no objection to the reported United States proposal to order the bombing of MiG jet bases in North Vietnam.

He was questioned about the report from Saigon.

The South Vietnamese Prime Minister told reporters that, speaking as an airman, it was better to wipe out enemy aircraft right on the ground.

He then was asked whether as Prime Minister, he would like to see this happen. “Yes,” Marshal Ky replied.

An airfield used for tactical fighter planes was a military target, he said. “I see no objection to destroying all military targets.”