Corpus Christi Caller-Times from Corpus Christi, Texas • 15

Corpus Christ! Caller-Times Sun July 12 1970 ISA Allies Plan Guerrilla Drive on Supply Line A II mm ViuL Ntw York rs lews to prevent this waterborne route from becoming a successful substitute for the land route closer to the common borders of Laos Cambodia and Vietnam and the sea route through the Cambodi Tims Niwi Sorvlco SAIGON Allied strategists are planning to use the ipon-gucrrilla to frustrate North Vietnam? efforts to develop an alternate supply route for its forces in Cambodia and Southern South Vietnam expansion of so-called irregular force activities in Southern Laos to ambush and harass North Vietnamese truck parks trans-shipment centers and barge and sampan movements along the Sckong River This work would be conducted by Kha tribesmen and Laotians trained by the Central Intelli- conduct comparable harassing actions lYesumably the guerrilla untis would be established by former special forces specialists of Cambodian extraction now fighting for the Lon Kol government around Phnom ronh There are now roughly 3000 such troops in Cambodia from which volunteer guerrilla fighters could be drawn an coastline have been working of possi- on plans for a number several steps to open a new supply route The first step on April 29 was to seize the town of Attopcu In Southern Laos that commands the upper readies of the Sckong River Since then North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops have taken a number of towns and villages along the Sckong and further south along the Mekong River in Cambodia United States Laotian and Cambodian officials in an effort when targets are spotted by small teams of South Vietnamese river patrol activities up the Mekong River at least to Karatie and perhaps as far north as Stung Trcng in Cambodia Scores of fast heavily armed patrol boats have recently been turned over to the Vietnamese by the US They now operate primarily on rivers and canals that crisscross the Mekong River delta area in South Vietnam blc actions ietnai gcnce Agency and already oper- ilcv- ating from bases in the Bou Recent Interviews with well-placed sources in South Vietnam Cambodia and Laos indicated serious consideration of the following allied counter Since the ouster of Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia on March 18 and the allied invasion into Communist sanctuaries along the Cambodian-Viet-namese border Hanoi has Men ens Plateau in Southern Laos of such special units to provido detailed radio reports to American bombers In South Vietnam and Thailand SPECIAL FORCES of similar irregular forces in Northeast Cambodia to moves: Beret Departure In Vietnam Seen By End of Year miroffMss ALWAYS FIRST QUALITY By WILLIAM BEECHER I KW ftaw York Ttmoi Now Savin 7 a SAIGON The Green Berets the first American fighting men tent to Vietnam in the early 1960s will leave by the end of this year according to reliable military sources The Special Forces here once numbered about 2700 men and commanded a 45000-man mercenary army of Montagnard bers in 1962 They were on loan to the Central Intelligence Agency which wanted to set up some border posts to spy on and occasionally harass North Viet namese and Viet Cong units moving through Laos and Cambodia About two years later when the mission became too big and too expensive for the CIA to hide any longer it was turaei over entirely to the specia group and run openly under Army financing Many military analysts regard the Special Forces program as one of the most successful in the entire Vietnam effort And yet the Special Forces have been controversial both within and outside the Army a if tribesmen and ethnic Cambodi ans Chinese and Vietnamese At the height of their operations they ran more than 60 remote posts primarily along the rugged 900-mile Vietnamese border with Laos and Cambodia Starting in miJ-1967 the American "Green so known because of thfeir distinguishing headgear began turning over a few camps to Viet namese authorities By the spring of 1969 only seven camps had been transferred the mercenaries in them being given a chance either to stay and Join the regular military or gi ie The bulk sbulkreported 7 Drew Criticism 4 I stayed But In the 18 months since then the Special Farces have turned over all but a handful of posts and are under orders to complete the transfer by December sources say The reasons for this suddenly accelerated phaseout appear to be varied iW Simplify Lines One ranking military man said the move was designed to end the use of mercenaries to clarify and simplify the Vietnamese lines of command and to de-Americanize another phase of the military effort in Vietnam Another source suggested that Some Army generals criticized the creation of an elite force that would be separate and better than other Army units Others decried the fact that the Special Forces attracted many of the most talented and Imaginative noncommissioned and commissioned officers men who the critics felt were needed throughout the Army Outside the military the Special Forces sometimes conjured up an aura of swashbuckling adventurers in uniform men who brushed aside the normal rules of conduct to accomplish what they felt was their mission The mysterious case of the disappearance of Thai Khac Chuyen the suspected double agent who allegedly was killed and his body encased in a canvass sack and dumped into the South China Sea probably supported that image The Army first brought charges against several mcm-jers of the special forces in the Chuyen case and then dropped them noting that prosecution would depend In part on CIA testimony and that the agency was unwilling to participate in the case on grounds of national security Sources here point out that a very small number of Special Forces men may conceiveably remain in Vietnam to help train Vietnamese Special Forces the displeasure of top American commanders over the circum stances surrounding the alleged of U69 shooting in the summer of a Vietnamese who was suspected of being a double agent employed by the Green Berets was also a major factor in their phasing out Special Forces headquarters in Nhatrang declined a recent request for an interview to discuss the status of their current work and future plans In past Rthe Green Beret always sen anxious to respond to similar Inquiries Special Forces specialists in the arts of guerrilla and counterinsurgency warfare first came to Vietnam in small num South Korea Softens Opposition to Cutback IPtek put it leayeaweiyS have been assured by the Americans that the reduction of a small portion of their forces in Korea does not bring any change at all to their determination to help defend our he added Foreign Minister Choi Kyu Hah told the assembly that the United States had given assurances that it would abide by its a obligations to Korea continue to station a substantial combat force here FASHION COATS FOR GIRLS Nw York Thwt Nmn SarvlM SEOUL South Korea American and South Korean military officials began preliminary taTire Saturday on the United plan to pull out some of 64000 American troops and 'airmen from Korea At the same time Korean Swerament leaders began softening their opposition to the troop cutback Speaking before tne National Assembly Premier Chung Kwon said he had been informed by the United States that only about 20 000 men at most would he withdrawn leaving a substantial American contingent (tin stationed in Korea long as Inore than 40000 American troops are kept Chung asserted "it is naturally expected that the United States would reinforce its forces in rose of war in order to Insure their would help modernize the $3 SIZES 3 TO 6X SIZES 7 TO 14 an armed forces and if necessary would increase economic aid The remarks Saturday sharply contrasted with the previous statements by Korean officials that they were strongly opposed reduction be- to any US troop cause it would seriously weaken the defense posture of their country in the face of the military threat from North Korea No need to wait till September for her new coat not when Penneys bridges the season with a young fashion collection like this! Over 500 coats from sporty to dress up in posh acrylic piles sleek woolnylon blends slicked-up-krinkled vinyl! Some with matching hats and mittens even maxi styles! All the looks of a little girl loves! The colors too! Like it charge it! Comity Auctions Camp Dwellings The 23 houses at the old Robs-fown Labor Camp brought $5420 a public auction yesterday Herbert Esse county purchasing egent said One bidder bought four houses I1 the others were sold sin- ONE DOLLAR HOLDS IT ON LAY-AWAY Sty- Prices paid for the structures ranged from $210 to $365 fur an average price of $240 Esse said purchasers have 120 uays to move the houses Thel land in the camp was sold in1 February to the American GI Forum which will construct rontal apartments there for tow-income families About 50-60 people attended yesterday's auction Esse said PADRE STAPLES MALI Open 10:00 'til 9 daily CATALOG CENTERS PADRE STAPLES MALL-phone 9917350 DOWNTOWN-phone 883-2591 DOWNTOWN Open Mon Thurs 'til 9 Other Days 9:30 'til 6 i Q333EJ 4.