The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 1

icicle Red Casualty Ratio 10-1; Thieu Orders Martial Law; Fighting Saigon's Heaviest; Westmoreland Sees Diversion Associated Press SAIGON A Viet Cong suicide squ? A perished under fire at the U.S. Embassy today whil, guerrillas afield pressed a mosaic of attacks throughout South Vietnam that was costing them 10 men dead for every allied soldier they killed. Pres. Nguyen Van Thieu proclaimed martial law. The U.S.

Military Command reported early Thursday that Saigon vas quiet "except for some sporadic new year offensive across the country while concen-tratin, against Saigon their biggest assault of the war on the South Vietnamese capital. Five Americans and 19 guerrillas were killed before U.S. forces regained control of the embassy compound, scene of the most spectacular in a series of raids in Saigon. Eleven Americans were wounded in the six-hour engagement there. Gen Westmoreland said he believed the enemy attacks were a diversionary effort "to take attention away from the northern part of the country." Tanks, artillery and machine-gun fire rattled through the streets.

Civilians as well as military personnel fell in the crossfire. small arms fire." But the Communists seized part of Hue, the old imperial capital, far to the north. "It is felt," the U.S. Command said, "that we now have the initiative and that we are no longer reacting to enemy initiated actions but are seeking out the enemy." At the same time, the command reported that a power plant in Cholon, the Chinese quarter of Saigon, was blown up by the Viet Cong. Snipers were reported still firing at the western end of Tan Son Nhut airbase, some of them only 200 yards away from the new "Pentagon East," U.S.

military headquarters of Gen William C. Westmoreland. The Communist extended their coordinated lunar 1968, Globe Newspaper Co. 288-8000 WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31, 1S68 GO Pages 10 Cents VIET WAR Page 20 The Embassy Battle I I 2 Bay Staters Join Fight to Rout Cong Suicide Squad in Compound "ry4 3 fife rrv I ik4hWk I mSmm mi c.

tmm 1 I 'ki A If' rV A 't SAIGON BATTLE SCENE Helicopter lands in street to deliver blood to first aid station while fight ing raged throughout city. Sniper fire damaged the helicopter, but craft completed its errand and took off. (UPI) BAY STATE HEROES Pfc Paul V. Healey Jr. of Robert O'Brien of Marshfield, shown on right with llolbrook, left, killed five Viet Cong while leading Amb.

Ellsworth Bunker, commanded forces at the attack on enemy besieging American Embassy. Capt embassy battle. Attacks Don't Make Much Sense News Analysis predicted, are bound to suffer terrible casualties from their attack, the biggest they ever have attempted in Vietnam. Why do they feel it is worthwhile? At least three theories are being discussed here. By WILLIAM McGAFFIN Chicago Daily News WASHINGTON Military experts here say that the latest Viet Cong offensive against U.S.

positions, well-entrenched with enormous firepower at their disposal, makes no sense, militarily. fect of making them realize that they have more to gain by negotiating than fighting "We may see a dramatic change in their attitude after this one is over," says the experts who hold this theory. They acknowledge, however, they may be doing some wishful thinking. VIET CONG Page 22 clothes were still torn and bloodied from the six-hour battle. The Viet Cong planned the embassy attack well, a trademark of the C10 sapper battalion that over the years has attacked a number of important Saigon buildings.

They dressed some of their commandos in the black pajamas of the Vietnamese peasant, others in the white shirts of the Saigon white collar worker. All carried perfectly forged curfew passes. When the attack began, those in white shirts fastened the top button as a mark of identification. Those in peasant garb pulled red armbands up their sleeves. ular theories is that this may represent one "last big push" preliminary to beginning peace negotiations.

Allied forces are too strong for them to gain much this way, it is held. But even a failure of the enemy effort, it is suggested, could have a beneficial ef The enemy forces, it is First, one of the most pop- By PETER ARNETT Associated Press SAIGON For the handful of Americans inside the glossy white U.S. Embassy, the fight that began at 2:54 a.m. today was one of survival. The 19 Viet Cong commandos who blasted their way through the embassies ornate concrete outside wall with explosive charges made it clear early on that they intended to stay until they were killed, and to take as many American with them as they could.

For the young soldiers of the 716th Military Police Battalion, crawling along the exposed gutters and sidewalks toward the besieged embassy, the mission was to clean out the enemy before he could get inside the building Unlike Americans fighting in the countryside, they did not have the help of fighter-bombers and artillery. They had to do the job themselves. One member of a military police patrol, Pfc Paul Healey of Holbrook, lost two buddies killed but was able to retaliate by killing five Viet Cong with grenades. He Mas among the heroes of the hour. Another Bay Stater, Capt Robert O'Brien, of Marsh-field, figured in the embassy battle later.

Today, O'Brien said, there should have been four Vietnamese policemen around the embassy at the time of the attack but "I saw none." SI" he spoke his They Mean to Kill Me' EMBASSY Page 19 Baron Lawyer Expected Attack More Stories on Embassy PFC O'BRIEN Airborne soldier from Holbrook fights way into beleaguered embassy in Saigon. Only last week his family learned he was serving as bodyguard for Cen. Westmoreland. See story on Page 19. CAPT O'BRIEN He led forces that relieved troops battling to save Saigon embassy.

O'Brien signed up as Marine again because he was tired of fighting traffic on Southeast Expressway. See story on Page 19. won't come forward because of fear. But they might with a reward." Fitzgerald was escorted from and to his home during the Suffolk Superior Court trial of four men charged with com- By RONALD A. WYSOCKI Atty.

John E. Fitzgerald who lost his right leg when his car exploded in an attempted assassination by the underworld last night, was marked for death for a month custody from both the FBI and detectives from Dist. Atty. Garrett H. Byrne's office, stating, "How can I practice law and support my family in protective custody?" BOMB Page 24 plicity in the gangland murder of Newton hoodlum Rocco DiSeglio.

Baron was the chief government witness. After their acquittal, the red-haired attorney shucked his police guards and refused protective Agreement With Hub Opens Door For 60-Story John Hancock Tower ASK THE GLOBE By ANTHONY J. YUDIS The John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. and the City of Bos- i 4 irluuflfrjftfruflfr.Tii AdfV 14bMor How much tax doe the state get on a pack of cigarettes, a gallon of gasoline, a fifth of whisky? Ask the Globe tell on Page 2. INSIDE HEADLINES ICY ROADS CAUSE SKIDDING ACCIDENTS Highway mishaps and traffic tieups blamed on early morning ice cover.

Page 2 RFK FACES POLITICAL REALITY Decision to stay out of presidential race seen tribute to LBJ's strength. Page 3 SOUTH KOREANS ANGRY Government seen more concerned over North Korea's threat to leaders than to Pueblo incident. Page 22 GOLD LOSS TOPPED $1 BILLION IN '67 European gold rush cost U. S. $900 million in December, the sharpest monthly dive in his-' tory.

Page 36 INDEX TO TONIGHT'S GLOBE What it? SCIEN. GLASS BLOWER FIRST class only, for bench and lathe work wanted and he knew it. The 36-year-old lawyer for gangland informer Joseph (Barboza) Baron said repeatedly over the past four weeks: "I don't scare easy, but I've never been so scared in my life. I feel panic. They mean to kill nic.

And you know they'll do it. You can't escape the combination." The father of five had been told by Federal agents, local police and underworld sources that he was slated to be killed because of his relationship with Baron. Middlesex Dist. Atty. John J.

Droney today requested the Commonwealth to post a $50,000 reward for the apprehension and conviction of those responsible for the attempted assassination. "The underworld is showing its contempt for law and order," Droney said. "We believe witnesses must have seen something which would provide a lead. Perhaps they NEARLY KILLED by bomb in car, Atty. John E.

Fitzgerald. ton today reached an informal agreement expected to pave the way for construction of a $75 million 60-story office tower in the Back Bay. The proposal would eliminate any legal zoning questions that could block the construction. The agreement was reached following a one-hour closed meeting in Mayor White's office today with officials of the insurance firm. Attending were Hancock president Robert Slater and vice president Albert Prout-y.

With White were C. Hale Champion, development administrator, and Herbert Gleason, corporation counsel. Opposition from architectural groups had forced white earlier to hold up the granting of variances sought by the company. The archi- tects had objected to the building's bulk and opposed the granting of an usually large height variance which they claimed would be illegal. Following the meeting Champion sai that under the agreement reached the city will submit an amendment to the Zoning Commission calling for a nes "sub-development" district or large tract zoning areas in the zoning laws.

The amendment said Champion would make it possible for the Zoning Commission to approve a total unified development for an area of the size contemplated by Hancock or other porposals, similar to the Prudential Insurance Co. development. The zoning change, in effect, would allow any developer to submit a complete building package to the Zoning Commission which in turn would designate the building site as a sub-development' district. HANCOCK Astro-Guide Book ,53 .29 .12 .23 Bridge Sports Steincrohn. ..23 TV-Radio ....53 Theaters ..28, 29 Twistagram .58 Women Crossword 53 Deaths ...56, 57 Editorials ....26 Financial Port 60 Society 34 Gansett Cancels Until Saturday FOR THE FIFTH TIME in 10 days, Narragansett Park has been forced to cancel its racing program due to poor track conditions.

TODAY'S CANCELLATION will be in effect until Saturday, according to Gansett Pres. J. Alden Dooley. "We'll have to scrap the entire strip and replace it with sand and new loam," he said. "The track was covered with deep mud today and is too dangerous." (Story on Page 55.) Calendar Classified.

Comics 58 This Want Ad was placed In The Globe by a Dorchester executive. He said an experienced glass blower is next to impossible to locate. If you 're an employer seeking an employee, or vice versa, try Globe Classified. It's New England's most powerful advertising medium. During 1967, Globe Classified carried a mighty lines of ads compared to a mere 8,262,197 lines for the other two Boston newt-papers combined.

Call 282-1500 I To place a Classified Advt. i in The Globe Stocks Pounded In Heavy Trading Glamour stocks again today paced the stock market to sharp losses in heavy trading. Computer stocks and electronics were hardest hit but even the Blue" Chips didn't escape. The closing Dow Jones Industrial Average at 855.47 THE WEATHER Clearing, colder. Tonight Low near 30.

Thursday More cloudiness, warmer. High tide 12:24 p.m. Full reports, Page 25. Dividends Compounded QUARTERLY 5 For All! Horn. Owners Fdpral was down 4.10.

See Page 37. Page 25 Savings, Sec ad page 3. Advt,.