Spraying Intensified

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 17

Spraying Intensified

(N Z P A -Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, May 12. The United States Air Force is preparing to dump 10 million gallons of vegetation-and-crop-killing poison over South Vietnam in the year beginning in July, according to Washington officials. The move represents a broadening of America's chemical warfare effort to strip jungle cover from enemy troops operating throughout South Vietnam, and to deny them food.

It may result in a shortage of lawn and garden weedkillers in America—last year, spray poison producers were said to be strained just to keep up with defence orders The wide application of such chemicals in South Vietnam has brought periodic complaints from . scientists, and others, .that it may lead to more deadly chemical warfare or have an enduring, nature-upsetting effect on- the countryside. The Pentagon, however, says the chemicals used are harmless to humans and animal life, and do not make the soil sterile for future growth.. The Washington officials said in response to questions that over 90 per cent of the chemical programme in South Vietnam is designed to kill jungle growth concealing

known enemy staging areas or to remove potential ambush concealment from along the roads, railways and canals used by United States troops and civilians. The remaining 10 per cent is aimed at wiping out food supplies growh by or for the enemy. Flights of USAF. Cl23s equipped with ■ 1000-gallon chemical - dispensing tangs began tn 1962 with a modest 107 missions. But.the operations have continued to intensify, however, and by 1966 united- States planes were flying more than 3000 spray sorties a year. On request, the Pentagon provided figures showing that last year the U.S.A.F. treated upwards of one million acres with herbicides and defoliants.