More U.S. Troops For Vietnam

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31440, 5 August 1967, Page 15

More U.S. Troops For Vietnam

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, August 4. Building the United States military force in Vietnam to President Johnson’s goal of at least 525,000 men —announced yesterday—will be done by thinning out standby forces now based in the United States, United Press International reports. The Pentagon has not yet decided what to do about rebuilding the stand-by force, however. When the build-up to 525,000 troops is completed, the United States will have 53,000 more men in Vietnam than were committed to Korea at the height of the Korean war.

The Army, which must supply most of the increase, must produce some 70,000 additional troops in the coming months. The Pentagon repeated its assurance that “no call-up of the reserves is contemplated.” It said troops would come from “forces now based in the United States.” Defence sources said this would be done primarily by taking “units” out of the domestic active duty force and sending them to Vietnam. The domestic units could then be rebuilt from the draft, recruitment and, to some extent, with men returned from Vietnam. New Taxes

President Johnson asked Congress yesterday to avert a massive budget deficitcaused partly by the Vietnam war—by imposing alO per cent surcharge on all personal and corporate incomes. At the same time, he announced that he would authorise an increase of American troops in Vietnam. Mr Johnson estimated the increased cost of the Vietnam war at $4OOO million, but said this did not include the cost of repairing the aircraft carrier Forrestal which was badly damaged last week by explosions and fire. The latest count from Saigon is that 461,000 United States troops are now in South Vietnam. But the Secretary of Defence, Mr Robert McNamara, has said that 480,000 troops were already authorised to be in Vietnam.

General ‘Satisfied’

A Democratic Congressman, Mr William Bates, a member of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee and one of the few Congressmen who met privately last month the commander of United States forces in Vietnam, General William Westmoreland, said the general was apparently satisfied with Mr Johnson’s authorisation. Before his White House talks General Westmoreland

was reported to have wanted 100,000 more men. The United States Labour leader, Mr George Meany, yesterday gave qualified endorsement to President Johnson’s “war tax” proposal. Mr Meany, president of America’s Labour federation, the A.F.L.-C.1.0., said his organisation endorsed the concept behind the request, but wanted it changed to conform to an individual’s ability to pay. “The President’s proposal for a war tax is based on the sound concept that all America —not just her armed forces—must share in the sacrifice needed to defend

freedom in Vietnam,” he said. “The A.F.L.-C.1.0. is in complete agreement with the concept” But, the Labour leader said: “We just as firmly believe that this sacrifice needs to be based on the ability to sacrifice.”

“To a degree,” Mr Meany said, “the President has recognised the principle of ability to pay, but we do have certain reservations about some aspects of his proposal.” He said his organisation would undertake a detailed study of the proposal before presenting its views to Congress.