The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 1

Indiana Indiana Edition VOL. 236, NO. 83 tftf Indiana Edition LOUISVILLE, THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 29, 1973 Copyright 1973, Th Courier-Journal 61 PAGES 10 CENTS Future is up to Hanoi; its intentions arc unclear Return of U.S. troops, POWs may not end the war Vietnam; by the administration's politically explosive plan to give Hanoi a stake in peace by rebuilding the country; and by the renewed use of air and naval forces. The first has never shown any promise of success.

Considering the hostility between China and the Soviet Union, it is considered unlikely, if not impossible, troops home, the United States faces a situation where the administration says its interests are vital but its options have been drastically narrowed. The fragile Paris peace agreement hangs on the good will of adversaries See CONCLUSION Back page, col. 4, this section that either would hold out on Hanoi and let the other charge it had abandoned a Communist ally. Whenever the administration sends detailed plans for the repair of war damage in North Vietnam, it will face spectacular and quite possibly insurmountable opposition in Congress. So, with the prisoners saved and the By RUDY ABRAMSON L.A.

Times-Washington Post Service WASHINGTON The last of them start home today, the last of more than 2.6 million Americans sent to South Vietnam since 1965. But release of the last 67 prisoners in Hanoi and departure of the final jetload of soldiers from Tan Son Nhut air base in Saigon no more ends the war in South- ISens analysis has declared Saigon ready to defend itself. In Congress, in the Defense Department, and in the Slate Department, President Nixon's statement of March 15 is taken as an indication that he would not stand by and watch an immediate North Vietnamese offensive. Warning against continued movement of men and arms into South Vietnam, the President told a press conference, "Based on my actions over the past four years," the North Vietnamese "should not lightly disregard such expressions of concern." Officials interviewed recently believe a major new Hanoi offensive in South Vietnam would bring heavy retaliation by U.S. bombers against supply trails through Laos and against North Vietnam itself," even at the great risk of creating new POWs.

With the re-introduction of American ground troops in Southeast Asia a flat impossibility, the United States has essentially three ways to influence events: By prevailing upon Peking and Moscow to withhold war materiel from North "There is a high order of probability that their program for now is to test the agreement and just find out what the traffic will bear," said an intelligence analyst who has studied the intricacies of the war in Southeast Asia for the last eight years. Much evidence for that already is in: continuing infiltration, installation of missiles in South Vietnam, outbreaks of fighting designed to gain territory, and repair of a major airfield. Now, according to the latest intelligence reports, North Vietnamese troops are paving roads leading into the demilitarized zone from the South. The Paris recognifion of self-determination for South Vietnam notwithstanding, it is widely believed in U.S. intelligence circles that Hanoi has not changed its fundamental objective of 'imposing a Communist government on the South.

The more pertinent questions are how and when it will choose to move, now that the Americans are gone, and how the Nixon administration will choose to respond, when it has no men to protect and east Asia than arrival of U.S. Marines eight years ago began it. The future course of the struggle is altogether up to Hanoi, and, in the judgment of most Southeast Asia experts, North Vietnamese leaders have not cemented their strategy. But the Hanoi government has apparently begun a carefully conceived effort to test the durability of the month-old Paris peace agreement even while it tries to settle on long-term plans. PO Ws' 'welcome' may change JSP fcfl yJa "What about Andy?" "Hush, he's still MIA (missing in action For the first lime in the more than a dozen welcome home ceremonies here, restraining lines were broken.

A Navy lieutenant, Denny Mendenhall of Los Angeles, rushed forward to bearhug two of his flying mates from the carrier Coral Sea. They were shot down over North Vietnam last April. The pair, Lt. Cmdr. James Souder of Ft.

Lauderdale, and Lt. Albert Molinare of San Diego, blinked back the tears. Air police sought to restrain Mendenhall but he fought them off to pin naval wings on the prison suits the men had worn out of Hanoi. Aboard the ambulance plane bearing them freedom-bound, the 40 liberated See 'WELCOME Back page, col. 5, this section does not provide any female companionship.

Last night's arrival of a plane load of 40 liberated aviators added this new joy-ousness to the superslick yet sincere flightline ceremony of greeting. While generals and U.S. Ambassador Henry Byroade waited to shake hands, the newly freed pilots tripped down the gangway from the big ambulance plane to the shouts of fellow pilots shouting their nicknames and pretty girls shrieking with excitement. Even older women were enamored. "We Love You Also "Clark Grandmothers," a banner read.

And there was a bevy of wives of pilots of the Clark-based 523rd Tactical Fighter Squadron to welcome back two men of the unit. "One more to go," a rooter of the 523rd shouted to her lady friends. "Bill's coming out tomorrow I've seen the list." By JACK FOISIE L.A. Times-Washington Post Service CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines As the American prisoner release begins its final day today, some well-intended "welcome home" plans are undergoing hurried revaluation. In its final phase, the men being liberated at Hanoi are becoming progressively younger and with decreasing time spent in captivity.

A high percentage of them are bachelors. Many have not been away so long from this massive air base with its attractive nurses, WAFs, civilian secretaries and charter line stewardesses that they have forgotten, or been forgotten, by girl friends. "ThCy might have something on their minds besides a shower and a good steak," an Air Force spokesman conceded. But the three-day stopover for homeward bound liberated prisoners Associated Press A VIET CONG MEMBER of the Joint Military Commission counted U.S. troops yesterday as they boarded a plane at Saigon's airport.

Nineteen planeloads of American soldiers left yesterday. 17 -year i Elsewhere Sources say McCord testified Mitchell knew of conspiracy Serious crime dips 3 in U.S. in 1972 IYime-raU' mica due The Nixon administration plans guidelines for operation of a new "dual" prime lending rate for banks Page A 2. in' plan n-waled A CIA official said the head of the International Telephone Telegraph Corp. offered to establish a fund to block the election of Salvador Allende as president of Chile Page A3.

Indians may rcNiinu talks Six lawyers met with Indians occupying Wounded Knee and later reported the Indians agreed to consider resuming negotiations with the government Page A 5. Amusements B16-18 Deaths B14, C12 Financial C10-11 Opinion Page A18 Radio, Television C2 Sports C4-9 Today's Living Bl-12 before the Senate committee next Wednesday, presumably when the committee will vote whether to grant him immunity from further prosecution. One Senate source said that all McCord's testimony was "hearsay" because all his knowledge about the alleged involvement of the high presidential aides came from Liddy and Hunt. Another source said McCord was "very positive" about the information he received from Liddy about Mitchell. "There was complete communication between McCord and Liddy about the subject," the source said.

That source, however, cautioned that McCord's information was not sufficient to prove illegal involvement of others in the conspiracy. The sources said McCord, the former See SOURCES Back page, col. 1, this section By BOB WOODWARD and CARL BERNSTEIN ir L.A. Times-Washington Post Service WASHINGTON James W. McCord Jr.

testified under oath yesterday that he was told by his principal superior in the Watergate conspiracy that former Atty. Gen. John N. Mitchell had personally approved plans to bug Democratic headquarters, according to Senate sources. McCord testified that co-consirator and former White House aide G.

Gordon Liddy told him Mitchell had approved the plans and budget for the bugging in February 1972, while Mitchell was still attorney general, the sources said. The sources said McCord indicated he knew of additional illegal wiretaps but would not discuss them with the Senate committee investigating the Watergate case unless he is granted immunity from prosecution. McCord also said he had been told by Liddy and E. Howard Hunt another conspirator, that presidential counsel John W. Dean III and former White House assistant Jeb Stuart Magruder had advance knowledge of the bugging operation.

In addition, the sources reported, McCord testified he "received second-hand information" that Charles W. Colson, then special counsel to President Nixon, also knew that the Democrats' Watergate headquarters were to be placed under illegal electronic surveil lance. Colson has denied any advance knowledge of the bugging. McCord's testimony was delivered in a 4 12-hour, closed-door meeting of the Senate's Select Committee investigating the Watergate bugging and related acts of political espionage and sabotage. It came as Hunt was appearing before a grand jury at the same time.

McCord is scheduled to appear again By PAUL VALENTINE A. Times-Washington Post Service WASHINGTON After an uninler-lrpted 17-year escalation, serious crime in Amcrca declined 3 per cent in 1972, the Justice Department announced yesterday. President Nixon applauded the statistical downturn the first since 1955 as 'very heartening." Atty. Gen. R'ichard G.

Kleindienst called it "an important milestone in the fight to reduce crime." In a statement issued from the White House, Mr. Nixon said the figures show "we can turn the tide of crime," but he urged Congress to enact more administration proposals for anticrime legislation "so that we can advance the work of providing the safe and secure country our citizens want and deserve so much." Kleindienst said the decline in the number of reported crimes is "directly attributable to the strong efforts of law-enforcement officers throughout the nation to turn back the wave of ci'ime that rolled upward in the 1960s." Although preliminary FBI figures show a 3 per cent decline in reported crime as a whole, they also reveal these details: The violent crimes continued to increase murder by 4 per cent, rape by 11 per cent and aggravated assault by 6 per cent. Crime as a whole continued to in-Sec SERIOUS PAGE 13, col. 1, this section Mxon proposes single Little change in the wetter 1 1 drug enforcement unit Furnished by the National Weather Servic LOUISVILLE area-Mild with showers through tomorrow. High, in mid to upper 60s; low, in mid-50s.

Rain chance 60 per cent through tonight. KENTUCKY Showers spreading over the jat through tomorrow. Highs, in 60s; lows, in 50s. TENNESSEE Mostly cloudy, mild with show, ers and possible thunderstorms through tomorrow. Highs, low 70s; lows, in low JOs.

INDIANA Mostly cloudy, mild with showers ond possible thunderstorms through tomorrow. Highs, in 60s; lows, in 40s to 50. High yesterday, 63; low, 48. Year ago yesterday: Highs 57; lows, 44. Sun: Rises, sets, 7:03.

Moon: Rises, 3:40 a.m.; sets, 2:13 p.m. Weather map and details, Page 12. brose, a special assistant attorney general in charge of drug abuse law enforcement, to direct the agency "during its formative period." There were uneomfirmed reports that John Bartels, Ambrose's deputy and a former New York prosecutor, may be named permanent head of the agency within a fesv months. In other drug statements yesterday, the administration: Reported the growth of heroin addiction in America seems to be slowing. Announced a temporary halt in production of federal antidrug propa- See SINGLE Back page, col.

1, this section By CARROLL KILPATRICK L.A. Times-Washinston Post Service WASHINGTON President Nixon proposed yesterday the consolidation into a single agency of all federal narcotics enforcement activity to do battle with what he called "a resourceful, elusive, worldwide enemy." In a special message to Congress, the President said "very encouraging" progress has been made against drug traffickers but "the resilience of the international drug trade remains grimly impressive." The proposed reorganization will go into effect unless vetoed by Congress within 60 days. The President designated Myles J. Am WW if I 4r Kf ff. St II 'I i v- jmiAttn A Ijnitn uuMwmml f--rn- ivrr i 1 lien I) li ting i Southwest hospital approval sought By CHRIS WADDLE Courier-Journal Staff Writer The Falls Region Health Council is being asked for the third time to give its approval for the construction of a hospital in southwestern Jefferson County.

And this time around, the pro-hospital forces have the full weight of the county judge's support. Jefferson County Judge Todd Hollcn-hach who has no authority to change a decision of the regional health planning agency sent letters to members of the Falls Region Health Council yesterday to criticize the body for turning the project down twice before. Hollenbach explained in an interview he was acting on behalf of citizens in the county's southwest and not for the for-profit hospital chain that wants the permission to build. "I have for two years felt decisions reached by the council were based on inaccuracies, supposition and opinions and possibly false hypotheses," the judge said. He directed part of his own staff to research Falls Region's position, Hollenbach said, and he received the help of the University of Louisville Urban Studies Center in analyzing the council and its reports on the health care needs of southwestern Jefferson County.

Jack Cross, president of the Falls Region Health Council, countered that his organization which acts with state and federal authority to review proposed hospital projects is also concerned with the area's health needs. Cross said he received a certificate of need application yesterday from American Mcdicorp, which wants to construct a l()8-bed Southwest Jefferson County Hospital in the vicinity of Dixie See APPROVAL Back page, col. 1, this section Associated Press Legislators honor Kaslcr AIR FORCE Col. James H. Kasler of Indianapolis, a former Vietnam POW, wields the pavel as honorary president of the Indiana Senate yesterday.

Lt. Gov. Robert D. Orr, Senate president, looks on. (Story, Page 1.).