Report on the Situation in Vietnam, 15 December 1967

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DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE

MEMORANDUM

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‘ ‘ 7 December 1967

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HIGHLIGHTS

The Communists have mounted their

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heaviest mortar attack against US Marine outposts near the Demilitarized Zone since September. The commanders of South Vietnam's four corps areas object to government reorganization plans which would diminish their power. I. Military Situation in South Vietnam: Nearly 300 mortar and artillery rounds were fired at US positions in the Con Thien area on 6 December in what may be a prelude to larger attacks in Ouano Tri -

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Two sharp clashes took place in Binh Dinh Province on 6-7 December (Paras. 9-10).

3.3(h)(2)

II. Political Developments in South Vietnam: 3 3(h)(2)

- IV.

Two groups in the Lower House are trying to organize themselves as blocs, while a third group appears to have slowed down in its efforts at both organizing ing (Paras. 3-8). and recruit-

III. Military Developments in North Vietnam: There is nothing of significance to report. Other Communist Military Developments: There is nothing of significance to report.

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I. MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

l. Nearly 300 enemy artillery and mortar shells were fired at US Marine positions near Con Thien on 6 December, the firing was the heaviest since the withdrawal of many of the enemy in late Septembere

2, The enemy shelling included 60-mmo, 82-mm., and 120-mm, mortars and 85-mm» artillery. Seven Americans were killed and 75 wounded, The number of enemy soldiers killed by our counterfire is unknown.

3. At the same time, units of the 4th Marine Regi- ment some two—and-a—half miles northeast of Con Thien were hit by an estimated North Vietnamese company which attacked with small arms, machine guns, and bazooka-type B-40 rockets° Six Marines were killed and 32 wounded. A Medevac helicopter was hit by enemy fire and disabled.

50 Two subordinates of the 90th Regiment--the 8th and 9th battalions-—have been extremely active near Con Thien, These units recently engaged an American battalion northeast of the stronghold and have also been involved in numerous small-unit actions. Additionally, these units have performed extensive reconnaissance activities in the area. Combat ele- ments of the 90th Regiment have had considerable mortar, artillery, and rocket fire in support of their activities o

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7. The renewed enemy activity, coupled with the recent movements of enemy troops back into the Con Thien area, suggest that the North Vietnamese may have decided to begin another round in this area, possibly in conjunction with an offensive near Khe Sanh in western Quang Tri Province. This threat comes at the peak of the monsoon season in the northern provinces. Most major allied land supply routes are closed and tactical air support is hampered.

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§tep~upWinWSinhyDinh 9. Two sharp clashes in Binh Dinh Province

on 6-7 December resulted in ten US and South Korean soldiers killed compared with 77 enemy killed. In addition, 25 South Vietnamese civilians were wounded on 5 December when enemy forces attacked a Revolu- tionary Development training center in Binh Dinh.

l0“ The heaviest fighting occurred in the US lst Cavalry Division's Operation PERSHING in northern Binh Dinh. During the morning of 6 December two companies of the lst Cavalry fought an estimated reinforced enemy company in bunkers and trenches. Sporadic fighting continued throughout the day and the US troops held down the enemy during the night with artillery and tactical air strikes. Ground action began again on the 7th and was continuing at last report. Enemy losses in this action are 43 dead.

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Activities of Lower House Blocs 3. Members of the Lower House have been active recently in consolidating blocs, forming alliances,

and lining up candidates for the house officers. 4.\ ‘the largely 3§NhX2) Catholic Independence Bloc formally organized itself

as a political group after receiving written pledges of adherence from 28 deputies during a meeting on 2 Decemi ber. They elected officers and gave the chairmanship to Gia Dinh deputy Nguyen Quang Luyen, a Buddhist, in an effort to defuse charges that the bloc is solely Catholic. It was further agreed that the bloc would seek the election of several of its number to Lower House offices. These include the positions of deputy chairman, secretary general, and deputy secretary general, as well as the chairmanships of several committees.

II_l 7 December 1967

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5. Bloc leadersi \

have 3§NhX2) tentatively decided to seek an alliance with the pro- government Democratic Bloc and have extended in— -

formal feelers to test the~Democratic Bloc's re- action. The leaders reportedly believe their pro- posal will be accepted since an alliance of the Independence Bloc's 28 members and the Democratic Bloc's 5l members would give the two a working majority in the house.

6D As for the Independence Bloc's attitudeH

toward the government,\ \

' 3§NhX2) K::::::::::::::]it will support government programs which it deems worthwhile, but does not want to become a rubber stamp. The bloc has reportedly decided against an earlier plan to form a loose alliance with the largely Buddhist, antigovern- ment Progressive Bloc. Independence Bloc leaders now believe that the Progressives are too anti- government and that such an alliance would hurt the bloc

70 The All Vietnam Bloc, a group originally formed to support Vice President Ky's presidential candidacy, is also attempting to organize itself as a formal bloc in the Lower House, but-is re- ortedl havin difficulty

\

- 3.3(h)(2) E%::::::%::::::%1bloc members, including seven Lower House deputies, were unable to agree during a meeting on 4 December whether the bloc's Lower House branch should be overt or covert. As a result, the group made no progress. Bloc chairman Tran that the deputies mitments Hao, and

8.

Van An is reportedly confident, however, bloc can muster the support of l8 to 20 in the Lower House and claims firm com- from l7. These include Cao Dai, Hoa Nationalist Party (VNQDD) deputies. The Farmer-Worker-Soldier Bloc is having

even more difficulty in organizing its Lower House contingent. The bloc's liaison man with the Lower House has not been attending meetings of the group's working committee,\

\

3jflhX2) and the bloc has apparently done little to increase its strength.

\ \ 3jflhX2) a bloc member recently that some 20 Catholic deputies would like to cooperate. Nothing has yet been done to follow this up, and bloc leaders do not even know the deputies‘ names.

7 December 1967 II-2 \ \

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III. MILITARY DEVELOKMENTS IN NORTH VIETNAM

IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS

l. There is nothing of significance to report.

7 December 1967

III—IV — 1

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V, COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Liheration Front Propaganda l. Spokesmen for the Vietnamese Communists

are presenting a studiously non-Communist picture of the kind of settlement for South Vietnam en- visaged in the Liberation Front's new political program. They try to make the program as appeal- ing as they can and to soft-pedal the principal objective-—a US withdrawal and a Communist political take-over.

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Report on the Situation in Vietnam, 15 December 1967

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Transcript of Report on the Situation in Vietnam, 15 December 1967