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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-04114 to 363-04119.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-04114 to 363-04119
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Title
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Article about Operation Toan Thang I
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Description
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Original title: "state", Keever's title: "Eyeing Peace, Washington Hushes up Allies Biggest Operation." Article draft about Operation Toan Thang/Complete Victory I, a military counteroffensive against the Việt Cộng's Tet Offensive, which lasted from April 8th to May 31st of 1968 and was the largest offensive by the allies (America, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and South Vietnam specifically) to date in the war. Written for the Christian Science Monitor
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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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zezc sag
ᎩᎩ .jp
state 1 (normass/deepe)
SAIGON, APRIL 16--The U. S. State Department in Washington,
while pushing for peace talks with Hanoi, has signalled American
field commanders to publicly play down the biggest military offensive
to date in the Vietnam war.
Informed sources said the State Department was embarrassed
that the largest operation of the war had been launched as moves were underway
to begin peace talks. Secretary of State Dean Rusk, when
couting
operat
tion
questioned about the offensive, called it a routine military activity.
These sources here said the State Department has also prohibited American
press officers to use the English translation of the "Toan Thang
BEEN
which means "Complete Victory." The English translation has dropped from
the mimeographed information sheets issued daily by the American military
command here. More than 10, 100,000 American and Vietnamese regulars and
paramilitary troopers are operating in the coordinated offensive in the
11 provinces around Saigon.
==more reuter
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- Page 2
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zczc sag
ᎩᎩ ljp
state 2 (normass/deepe)
This move follows one other--and possibly more significant-
recent restrictive measure on American and military officers and men
here on what they can not say for public consumption. A classified
directive from the American military command in Saigon has ordered
American officers and GI's not repeat not to discuss their personal
views on negotiations between and talks between Washington and Hanoi.
While the directive was issued under the named of the American military
command here, sources believe their the instructions leading to the
directive were issued from the Washington level.
All/military and American mission spokesmen have maintained the
Reply
N
practice for some weeks of replied "no comment" on any questions
pertaining to peace moves. As a result, the Vietnamese government,
Here q
chologically
Vietnamese population and American community swimming amidst rumors
and distortions,
some of which are thought to an be initiated
by the very adept Communist propaganda teams.
by
==more reuter
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- Page 3
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zcze sag
ᎩᎩ ljp
state 3 (normass/deepe)
As President Johnson's speech came over transistor radios
here on April 1, American officers and GI's were at
officially
advised: "You are free to say whatever wayou want--but remember you're
wearing a military uniform and have a taken a military oath." Sover Several
caim was issued, which clamped down
days later the classified directive
on this freedom.
The restriction measures on American military men introduces
on a large-scale the spectre of what Western journalists here have feared
most censorship at the source of information,
rather than censorship
at the telegraph office. They view this as a far more extravagant,
D
awesome and blanket restriction on their potential military sources than
the oft-criticized and oft-practices soft-sell news management.
But,
some senior officials ignore the restriction and voice their
more reuter
opinion anyhow. The typical reaction when voiced--opposition to is
opposition to negotiations.
"The only thing that can be negotiated
is the freedom of South Vietnam-and I don't consider that negotiable,"
one source sa emphasized.
==more reuter
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zczc sag
ᎩᎩ ljp
state 4 (normass/deepe)
"The State Department passed the word down the line to the
why did you have to
military commanders asking in exasperation,
start a big offensive just now!?," one informed source explained.
UETNAM
"But, I don't know why they jumped on the pump military commanders
that operation was approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington.
All the big operations are. This is the most over-controlled war
in history. I remember during the Tet offensive the Pentagon war
room called directly down to a platoon commander who was fighting
at Tan Son Nhut airbase, asking if what was happening, seeing if
they were getting accurate reports."
This "over-control" by Washington has been a constant complaint
of senior Americans officials, generals and colonels for the past three
years of the war.
== more Rent
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- Page 5
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zcze sag
ᎩᎩ ljp
state 5 (normass/deepe)
Another source explained * "The State Department is giving the
American public the impression there's going to be a military de-escalation
here. But, the military commanders who remember the Tet truce very swell-
see the Communists building up for another push and they're trying to
stop it. That's why the State Department told us to keep quiet about
the American participation on Toan Thong and ordered us not use the
English translation of the
offensive."
American military commanders feel the Toan Thong o-e
"Complete
Victory" offensive is significant, in an attempt to drive the Comm
frg fragmented Communist units away from the Vietnamese population centers.
The operation began Af April 8, but was officially announced
by the U. S. military command on April 10. During the first seven days,
586 Communists have been announced as killed and 270 captured as prisoners
One the Allied side, 85 have been killed (49 American,
or detained.
36 Vietnamese),
430 wounded (294 American, 136 Vietnamese). Nearly
150 Communist weapons have been captured.
==more reuter
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- Page 6
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zczc sag
ᎩᎩ ljp
state 6 (normass/deepe)
(Hank:
there's
alot of rumors here about a government shakeup
Can John Hughes
in Hanoi, but we can not get any confirmation here.
or London check it out.
develops here on it.
தொடர்
Regards Bev).
==end r reuter
We'll see tomorrow if anything
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Date
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1968, Apr. 16
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Subject
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Operation Toan Thang, 1968; Vietnam (Republic). Quân lực; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; United States. Army; Strategy; Warfare
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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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B10, F12
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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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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
