Bomber Bases In Thailand

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31319, 15 March 1967, Page 13

Bomber Bases In Thailand

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 14. The United States was reported yesterday to have reached agreement with Thailand for basing Stratofortresses in that country where they will be much closer to targets in Vietnam.

The eight-engine bombers fly at present from Guam—a 4300-mile round trip to objectives in South Vietnam. There was no official confirmation of the report that the Ambassador, Mr Graham Martin, had reached agreement with Bangkok officials after a month of negotiating. The Thai Prime Minister, Field-Marshal Thanorn Kittikachorn. told reporters yesterday his Government had no objection to the stationing of United States bombers in Thailand. The Prime Minister added that the subject was “still under negotiation’* with the Americans. Field Marshal Kittikachorn said he was not worried about the possibility of Communists attacking Thai bases where the bombers would be stationed. The report that Americans and Thais had come to terms was after the announcement on March 9 that United States fighter-bombers were flying from Thai bases against North Vietnamese targets. There are 410 United States Air Force aircraft stationed in Thailand, including 10 squadrons (180 planes) of fighter-bombers which fly more than 75 per cent of all Air Force sorties against North Vietnamese targets.

Other Air Force missions originate in South Vietnam. In Hong Kong, A.A.P.-Reu-ter reported that North Vietnam had charged the United States was preparing to make more use of bases in Thailand to launch air strikes against her.

A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in Hanoi said that for a long time the Americans had tried to conceal the fact that they were using bases in Thailand for launching air strikes against North Vietnam. However, the admission of this “crime” now showed the United States was preparing public opinion for the broader use of Thailand “to further the plan of intensifying and expanding the United States aggressive war in Vietnam and Indo-China," the statement, quoted by the North Vietnam news agency, said.

Boat Unfit.—A 45ft pleasure boat which sank with 29 holidaymakers on a Sunday outing off the Cornish coast last August was “unfit for the perils of the sea,” an inquiry found yesterday. The 29 summer trippers and two crew members died when the ship went down.—London, March 14.