‘Risk’ Of Losing Impetus In Vietnam Without More Men

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31412, 4 July 1967, Page 15

‘Risk’ Of Losing Impetus In Vietnam Without More Men

(N.Z Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, July 3. The Joint Chiefs of Staff have warned the Johnson Administration that if General William Westmoreland’s minimum request for an additional 70,000 troops is not met the United States will run a high risk of losing the initiative in the ground war in South Vietnam, the “New York Times” News Service reported.

The warning, well-informed military sources said, was contained in a recommendation

by the Joint Chiefs to the Secretary of Defence, Mr Robert McNamara, that the Administration grant General Westmoreland’s request for another two combat divisions and supporting units by mid--1968. The recommendation was submitted to Mr McNamara on April 20, the sources said, but so far the Administration had taken no action on it. The reason for the inaction, the sources believe, is that the Administration is reluctant to grant the request since it cannot do so without a partial mobilisation of the reserves and a significant increase in the war costs. Army personnel experts have concluded that only one division and supporting units, about half the number of troops requested, can be sent within the time limit specified by General Westmoreland

without a partial mobilisation. The two divisions could be initially sent by dangerously stretching the Army’s resources, these specialists say, but the over-all level of American troops this would put into South Vietnam, about 550,000, then could not be sustained without partial mobilisation because of the very high personnel turn-over necessitated by rising casualties and the one-year tour of duty there. Mr McNamara will discuss the problem with General Westmoreland during his scheduled visit to Vietnam

this week, but the General is reported to have told recent visitors that he has little hope that his request will be granted. He warned that he needed these additional 70,000 troops to retain the initiative in South Vietnam and the warning was endorsed by Admiral Ulysses Grant Sharp, United States Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, and General Westmoreland’s immediate superior. There are now 466,000 Americal servicemen in South Vietnam.