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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-08450 to 363-08455.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-08450 to 363-08455
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Title
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Article about the number of American troops in Vietnam
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Description
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Original title: "Troops", Keever's title: N/A, Article draft about the number of American troops in Vietnam, for The North American News Alliance
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AI Usage Disclosure
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Draft transcripts were automatically generated via Google Document AI and are currently under review. Please report significant errors to Archives & Special Collections at archives@unl.edu.
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Transcript
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- Page 1
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Beverly Ann Deepe
64A Hong Thap Tu
Vietnam
Saigon,
Troops page 1
July 14, 1967
5.7/19
SAIGON American commander General William C. Westmoreland has
requested a total of three-quarter million American troops for
Vietnam by mid-1969.
The request is one of the most momentous decisions facing
President Lyndon B. Johnson, reliable sources here report.
The request may be almost as difficult for President Johnson
as his original decisions to send 480,000 American troops here-for
the next increment would demand quasi-wartime footing for America,
with demands of more
1968 election year.
money and men cutting across the
Reliable sources here report that General Westmoreland &
has already requested--and been promiseda tuTALLAT
550,000 American men here by mid-1968.
troop level of
However, he wants to raXER
receive authorization for 600,000 men before the
American election and a total of 750,000 men by mid-1969, these
sources say.
(More)
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Deepe
Troops--page 2
The great center of decision for President Johnson now is:
how many more American troops can he authorize after the 550,000
he has already approved? A peripheral question here is: How much
longer will General Westmoreland be retained as commander of
American forces here?
While no immediate decision is likely to be announced,
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, in his farewell press
conference here, indicated that American troops for Vietnam would
be increasingly difficult to
commit. Instead, he called
for more efficient use of the one-million-plus troops in Vietnam
already--American troops as well as the flagging Vietnamese forces.
Reliable observers here believe that, given the present
direction and pace of the military war,
three-quarter million
American troops will still be too few by mid-1969. They note an
increase in the strength and activity of the Communist main-force
units, coupled with the inability of the Allied forces to defend
the Vietnamese villages from Communist guerrillas and politica L
cadre. These observers concede, however, that if the Johnson
Administration or the Vietnamese government to be elected in
September enter into negotiations with the Communists,
requirements for more American troops might drop.
(More)
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Deepe
Troops--page 3
The request by General Westmoreland for 750,000 American
represents a sizeable increase ever
troops in the next two years
the Administration's original estimates of the American manpower
needs for the Vietnam war. Two years ago, American generals
here
reportedly estimated they would need only 350,000
American troops in Vietnam to continue pressure against the Communist
main force units, plus securing major installations in thek key
cities. However, the massive Communist buildup of foroes--from
local recruitment and infiltration--plus the inability of the
Vietnamese armed forces to recover its fighting effectiveness has
caused a major re-assessment.
Vietnamese sources believe the Johnson Administration
has created and followed a "deliberate policy of confusion"
regarding the future American troops requirements for Vietnam. For,
they explain, on the one hand the official Administration statements
ing
and leaks to newsmen-each quote different buildup figures--is
designed to prepare American public opinion for more troops, while,
on the other hand, not giving too much information to the Communist
bloc.
Based on reliable military sources here, this is the story:
(More)
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Deepe
Troops page 4
Currently,
there are 466,000 American troops in Vietnam. But,
more important than the actual in-country figure is the number
already authorized.
This authorized figure is 480,000. Some of
but they are behind schedule in arriving.
these are already "in the pipeline" enroute to Vietnam Several
months ago,
the figure already approved for Vietnam was 470,000--
but with the heavy fighting along the demilitarized zone, ES IRGE
Westmoreland reportedly requested and received approval for another
increment of 10,000, the most significant prepeto portion
coming in the form of artillery units.
At this time, requests for more troops are based on
sliding timetables--which creates some of the confusion in press
articles. From now until June of next year,
Westmoreland has
requested--and has been a virtually promised-another 70,000
troops. This would raise the total commitment level to 550,000
by mid-1968.
This increment of 70,000 is important to American field
commanders, because they would be mainly ground forces-which they
badly need to keep pace with the Communist buildup. This chunk of
70,000 troops is equivalent to two American divisions, one light
brigade, plus their organic supporting units.
(More)
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Deepe
Troops--page 5
During this same time period--from now until mid-1968--a
Westmoreland has requested another chunk of 50,000 American troops--
such as helicopter companies,
mainly direct support units,
artillery batteries and naval groups. He reportedly wants to have
in Vietnam a total of 600,000 American troops before the American
Presidential election in 1968. He is not so sure to get this,
however.
Then, after the American election through mid-1969,
Westmoreland has requested an additional 150,000 troops-raising
the over-all total to three-quarter million American
fighting men.
And this is where President Johnson and Secretary McNamara have
dilemmas no computer can solve. More American men and money
tx may mean fewer votes and more criticism during the
will Zatx
election.
The tactical policy of sending American troops to Vietnam
in "tranches" (French for slices) or "on the installment plan"
has raised some controversy within the official American community
He here.
(More)
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Deepe
Troops--page 6
One critica military officer--said:
"The idea of sending
American troops here on the installment plan is absurd. It's like
One can't jump into a tub-full of scalding hot water
taking a bath.
and stand it.
hotter.
But one can take it if the water gradually gets
That's the we the way the Communists are--they are adjusting
to our measured troops levels without feeling any heat."
One American civilian official, speaking in private, sai d
no more American troops should be sent to Vietnam without radical
improvements in the efforts of the Vietnamese officialdom at all
levels and in all fields--the Vietnamese army, administration and
government.
Another source,
who believed more American ground troops were
needed--and needed fast--questioned the tactical uses General Westmoreland
has chose to use. He suggested Westmoreland's search-and-destroy
N
de- EMPHASIZED.
strategy be re-evaluated and de-emphased.
Another factor adding to the controversy and uncertainty here
is the increase in rumors that General Westmoreland will be replaced
CARLIER
in the near future. Previous rumors to this effect have been denied.
-30-
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Date
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1967, Jul. 14
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Subject
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
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Location
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Saigon, South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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10.8231; 106.6311
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Size
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20 x 26 cm
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Container
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B118, F6
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Format
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dispatches
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
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Language
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English
