Unprepared For Guerrilla Raids

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31598, 8 February 1968, Page 11

Unprepared For Guerrilla Raids

(N Z .P.A.-Reuter—rCopy right)

SAIGON, February 7.

Despite American warnings, the Communist guerrilla attacks on South Vietnam’s cities caught South Vietnamese Government troops with their defences relaxed “Pearl Harbour style”, according to United States officers quoted by United Press International. A corporal was in charge at the General Staff Headquarters in Saigon, the Americans say.

President Nguyen Van Thieu was away from the capital at his home in My Tho and did not return until 12 hours after the shooting began.

Some units had sent as many as half their men home for the Tet (lunar New Year) holidays. . All over South Vietnam cannons were covered, tanks were parked and senior officer were away from their posts, relaxing at such popular resorts as Vung Tau, on the seashore, and Dalat, in the mountains, the American officers are quoted as saying.

All Government offices in Saigon except the military and police headquarters were closed for the six days-of Tet. At Ban Me Thout, in the Central Highlands, a Government division had had 16 days to prepare for the attack because they had captured a battle plan. Nevertheless, the Viet Cong infiltrated 2000 men through the Government troops deployed outside the city to protect it. Major-General George Eckhardt, the top United States adviser to the South Vietnamese troops in the Mekong Delta, south of the capital, said he was warned by General William Westmoreland’s headquarters to be ready for “a sneak Viet Cong attack” on the night of January 30, and he advised the Vietnamese commanders that they should order a 100 per cent alert to meet th'- attack. They did not follow his advice. The raiders struck 11 of the delta’s 16 major cities, penetrating several of them, and fighting raged round General Eckhardt’s compound in Can Tho.

The size of the guerrilla force, about 5000 men, which infiltrated into Saigon was an indication of the South Vietnamese forces’ state of readiness, officials say. The guerrillas slipped into the capital, drew weapons, ammunition and rations from

secret arsenals, and then massed for their attacks without even alarming the military intelligence system. United States officials’ criticism of the South Vietnamese readiness is, however, balanced by praise for the Government troops’ performance after the fighting began. Many Government units bore the brunt of the cities’ defences, they say, and their response to the attacks dashed Communist hopes that Saigon’s control of the country would collapse. South Vietnamese battle deaths were more than double those of the United States and other allies.