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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-05307 to 363-05322.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-05307 to 363-05322
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Title
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Article about the outcome of the third phase of the Tet Offensive
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Description
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Original title: "loss", Keever's title: "Communists Lose Troops and Time in their Third Offensive", Article draft about the outcome of the third phase of the Tet Offensive, for the Christian Science Monitor, page 1-16
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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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BIEN HOA,
SETP SE
Suffered
BIEN HOA, SOUTH VIETNAM, SEPTEMBER 18-The Communists have lost
have
lost
heavy casualties--and,
third-wave,
more important, time-in the first month of their
Saigon-bound offensive.
But, sources here at the headquarters of the twelve provinces surrounding
~that
Saigon believe the Communists have not thus far been decisively defeated--
and that they still plan impressive ground attacks on the capital and other
ma jo major cities throughout the country.
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In the first month of their thrid third-wave, the Allies have
FAN IMPRESSIVE
inflicted
ten to one kill-ration on the Communists-ton
Communists killed for every one Allied soldier killed--in the 18-12-province
gmen area surrounding Saigon. Official sources list 3019 Communists killed
by bodycount with another 2400 estimated killed. Game
Allied ealand
Aushalians.
forces operating in the area-American, Vietnamese, Koreans and Thais
fewer
have
- suffered slightly less than three hundred killed.
The Communist third-wave offensive was scheduled to hit Saigon
in massive strength in early August-but the Allies captured their battle
plan plan. Then, the Communists re-geore scheduled their offensive
operations and the on the ground, their offensive began on the ground
FIND INDIRect
on August 18 with early morning coordinated gro
Northines for gund attacks in Tayninh
province and Binh Long provines, in Saigon prou, and other coordinated
attacks in the northern portions of the country.
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Since then, the Communists have been attempting to launch their
massive ground assaults on major urban con cities, their radio broadcasts
have warned in Saigonese to eva e evacuate the "nob-hill" coctions of
the city,
their indoctrination sessions have been coas coaxing more onom
energy and urgonoy from their troops-but thus far they have beon kopt off-
balance enough that they have failed to make the move.
"The Communists have failed in the first month of their offensive," one
Allied officer explained, "partly because of our actions and partly because
of their own weaknesses. The more we kill, the fewer they have. And
wo refuse to play their game.
They have been launching border actions
in the hopes that we'll move our brigades m away from the
from
out of the cities and ta fight them on the borders.
draw us out of the city perimeters.
They are trying to
"Wo fool they will continue this strategy until they believe they have
achieved successor have failed to achieve success-and they they will try
something elso. We believe they still are attempting to attack Saigon
and other cities and they will do this when it is militarily possible. "
No one is predicting when6f that will be.
"We have stopped our orystal-ball-gazing,"
more router
the officer explained.
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ten
the
The balance of forces in the two provinces surrounding Saigon is
on the side of the Allies--but not heavily so, considering the nature of
the sub-conventional war. The Communists meintein 72 mazio battalions,
basio maneuver elemonts, organized either as autonomous unite, in regiments
Pitched against this is 100 maneuver battalions of all
or in divisions.
However, the Allies Alliod battalions are
Allied forces in the area.
heavier in numbers, and pro, backed up by superior p firepower and
mobility. Vietnamese regular army battalions are now ruj running 25
per cent of over-strength--a rather historic event during his war-as
newly-trained draftees from the national m gonoral mobilization programare
are now hitting the frontlines.
In numerical strength, the Communists are officially considered to
"trigger-pullore
have 23,000 to 25,000 bombat and combat-support troops, minnenui
An
hemenxm such as riflemont, artillerymen and sabotage units.
additional 25,000 "body cu "bad guys" are also in the area local forces,
porters, infrastructure and rear-cool echelon support elements. Roughit
Roughly 85,000 Allied riflemon are in, compa combat against the po
more routor
Communist units.
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The force ratio and the nuborical strength of the Communists is still
considered to Touch their pro-let level, with personnel replacements
filling in for the heaty on heavy casualties they have tame takon since
late January.
An estimated 85% por cont of the Communist troops in the
11 provinces comprising the Third Military Corps are estimated to be North
Vietnamese Army soldiers, instead of the "home grown" Southernorse
Clers
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cut Shop
leen
The current status of the ground action revolves around the three
Communist divisions in tho I provinco arcae The 9th Division is curon
currently organi based in Cambodia, but twice during the past month organized
into task forces, come across the border of attacked American and Vietnamese
forces in tho Tay Ninh province, and then retreatod back across the border.
The 5th Division is operating in sort of a unit-to-unit face-down
with three Amorioan brigades in a triangle formed by Trang Bang, Dau Th
Tieng and Toy Ninh city there kan boon sharp notions betoon in this
confrontation during the past month of the offensive. The U. S. Army
101st Airborne recently corder oordoned off a Communist battalion there is
two and a half weeks ago--but the Communists massed and broke through the
American linos in a hoctiv hootio battle. Thirty Americans and 120
Communists were killed.
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this Cam
o Cost 5th Division hasb boon subjected to heavy bombardments
by B-52 SAC bombers az
on in Tay Ninh and near the
fringes of Cambodia. A september Stratofortress reid on September 6
was targetted loss man on roughly half a mile from the Cambodian border.
"Prisoners and documents from the 5th Division indicate the Communists
have taken a bad boating from the B-52's,
ono informed cource cxplained.
"We are constantly finding (Communists) guys who said they couldn't find
the rent 02
after anyone else from their battalion after
a rtl reind so they surrender. But, maybe they don't look very
hard for their battalion either."
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CommoNIST
The 7th Division is currently targeted against elements of the U. S.
1st Infantry Division in the Loc Ninh area, where heavy actions have teken
place. Documents indicate this Communist division is short of food and
supplies the only one in the area suffering from this and recent
capture of an arms cache by Vietnamese Special Forces, containing enough
to send a regiment into battle, would seem to hurt it even more.
Other than the main divisions, other Communist battalions and regiments
have reamined relatively static. These sub-divisional units are considered
the likely ones who will assault Saigon at the given time, with possible
reinforcement from the divisions. The decision to move these three divisions
to Saigon would be politically unwise, since they are composed largely
of North Vietnamese troops. Southern-born troops would be better
militarily and politically.
South of Saigon, in Long An province, eight Communist autonomous
FIND
ba ttalions have been gradually chewed at thoroughly mauled by the U. S.
Army 9th Infantry Division; three of the eight battalions have been disbanded
and the surviving troops used as fillers in for the remaining five battalions.
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"What the enemy is doing now is to target the 5th V. C. Communist
division against our 25th Division," one officer cxplained.
"The purpose
Thoy
is to get us to pull our troops out of Saigon and to pull our lordos
out so their sub-divisional fore local forces can attack Saigon. The
second purpose is to try to render the 25th Division combat ineffective.
Their teo tios are heavy attacks by rocket and mortar fire, followin
followed by light ground proves probes on Americen installations.
hope the Americans will come out of their defensive areas the Communists
know they will loso too many men if they rush our alaymore mines and barbed
wire. But, the haven't acchie achieved any success. The 7th North
Vietnamese division is doing the same thing at Loo Ninh with the U. S.
That's not working too well for them either."
1st Divisione
He said that from August 25 to
September 10, the Communists
maintained a "stand-down", while they re-evaluated their tactics, "but
thog best thing they could could think of we was a re-hash fo of their first
Tan Tay Ninh action. I guess they will continue with this until they
either echieve success or docide they have failed."
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Despite some heavy shellings, American installations and supply
depots have withstood them would without significant losses. ring
On September 13, the Communists dumped 1,650 rounds of moratar mortar
and recoiless rifle fire on an Americon fire support base called Buoll near
Tan Tay Ninh city. This was heavier This was as numb heavy The number
of sholls was as heavy as the "bad days" for the American Marines at
The Jonh, but the calibre of the rounds was much meter. But, no
Americans were killed, 17 were wounded end evacuated and thero was light
material demago.
No
the
Communists
Have Suppered
Fa
FIND Toy
a las
own Military Martin
Rut
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The shift-over to heavy emphasis on North Vietnamese troops has brought
a bundle of problems for the Cong Communists.
"Since early thigyoar, thore his boost-e this has increasingly boon
"And this has
a North Vietname so war," one informed source explained.
brought the Allies all sorts of goodies. This has underout the Viet Cong
appeal of nationalion and social justice--bit the North Vietnamese mean
And the Communists have
pure and harsh Communism to the Southernors.
HA
from wooing the meme mase to greater use of forces before the Viot Cong
convinced the population of the inevitability of their final victory-but
now the North Vietnamese are mucking it up for thom.
Gradually more people
-have boon South Vietnamese have weaned themselves away from the Viet Cong
this does not mean they are pro-government or pro-American, but they are
now available for wooing by the Allies.
"Militarily too, the shift to a North Vietnamese war has meant many
things these troops are less familiar with the terrain and the people; the
people give thom loss supports the North Vietnamo se oporate with less
intelligence information than the Viet Congs the North Vietnamose can not
live off the land like the Viot Cong, but depend on oumborsomo lines of
supply. And finally, the Neth Vietnamese tend to fight a more convon tional
as distinct from the Viet Cong hit-and-run VietCong's audacious
manner of agitation agitation, propaganda, ambushes and hit-and-run guerrilla
warfaro.f This is a much noi ongior It is much easier for the Allies to
fight the North Vietname co-becouse this is now much more of an invasion than
an insurgency."
wax,
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In addition,
there are increasing number of reports of frictions/
between North Vietnamese and indigenous Southern Communist fighters.
"The Northerners serving under Vio- Viet Cong leadership in
a Communist unit think they are abused and maltreated," one informed source
explained. "We captureed a document from a political officer in which the
Southerners had to stop the village populate population from laughin
laughing at the Northernors and coat ces cheating them and selling them
shoddy merchandioo. The Viet Cong had to explain to the people that these
guys come to the South to help use
1:
He continuod s
"But, the Southerners who serve under the NVA officers believe
the Northerners have superior attitude like you guys guys (the Southerners)
have been goofing around for ten years down here and now we have to come down
and straighten it out."
ore Peuter
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A second major problem facing the Communists operating around Saigon
athis time is that while their numerical strength has remained constant,
there has been a significant drop in the quality of their troops and their
loadors.
"I'vo 500
"I'm scoing something that I never thought would happon," one
Allied
finom long-timo official here explained. "I never thought the onomy
losses would reach a proportion that attrition would be a significant
factor in this war. And I never thought we'd change our tactics to fight
a real night-time, rifle-war with the Communists, Woll, wo haven't changed
our tactics-but the Communists have changed theirs and he's they've
ey Are
brought their units from the jungles into our midst whore hot more
vulnerable and they die faster. Now, I soe attrition is important,
Because while the Communists can replace their losses, they can not
replace their leadership. Some of those sotien Communist attacks, I'vo
AND
nover seen them conducted more s
stupidly.) When they attacked the district
town of Trang Bang, they hit all of our strongpoints and retreated
across an opon fiold. They poured in 300 mortar rounds on our bunkering system-
didn't hit all and instead ripped up an eight-room school,, dispensary and
some private dwellings. They didn't seem to have any real objective, the
operation wasn't coordinated, they hit different points at different times.
Two regional forco companies held them off-there was nothing admirable about
our defense-it was just a ridiculous show on the part of the enemy."
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Another military
A military source explained the framed
femme change in the
Communist performance this ways
"Before Tet, some of these old T. C. (Southern Viet Cong) units
were so good, you'd be glad to have them in any army.. But now, they don't
have any push or drive. Somo ofthovo newly-arrived North Vietnamese
tet
units are pretty tough customers in their first battle and they put up a
good fighting, fight, but most of them don't have ec1 good morale,
Before, we nog never found a Communist weapon on the bat left on the
battlefield--now we get ten or fifteen after good contacts. Our weapons-to-
body ratio is going up.
"Now, the Communists don't have loft many of their old Southern
commanders who fought against the French.
of some
I've read the personal histories
e Viet Cong commanders-it used to take them ton or 15
fifteen years to become a battalion commander just like the U. S. Army.
But, now we find new Viet Cong recruits who just joined the Viet Cong
in February this year after Tot are squad, platoo and platoon leaders, and A
in some cases, evon company commenders."
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The current Communist strength is their ex ecoalation in woaponry,
and in most cases, a b plentiful supply of ammunition, weapons and other
supplies. Informed sources say they Communists have bee botter weapons than
ever, with more AK-47 autem asal automatic assault rifle) and AK-50's
Repla
(automatic rifle) instead of sks semi-automatics. Theirt There has been
(automatic rim of Re
a notable shift in increasing the calibre of their mortare, from 60% to
82's; their recoiless rifles are being upgraded from 57 mm. to 75 mm.
Americansh troops have captured ammunition for 75 m. peak howitzers-
but have to yet to ci confirm this mobile ortillery is in country.
There are constant reports of Communist tanks near the Cambodian border
areas them but none have beon confirmed in South Vietnam.
Special Forces camp at Katum, along the Cambodian border, regularly
reports seeing it lights at night and hearing truck: auginted ongines
on the South Vietnamese side of the border, presumably the trucking of
supplies from Cambodia into War Zone C in Tay Ninh provinco.
call in artilly artillery on them--and occasionally t
a secondary explosion of ammunition.
The
They generally
are greeted by
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American helicoptera oconich have in the past reporting reported
from Gambodia into South
spotting light passenger aircraft flying over
Vietnam, but no sitings have been mado in the past month and a half,
"The Communists diff definitely have much better woapons," one
officer explained. "But they are not any botter with them than with the old
ones. They just get a bigger boom. "
One of the principal Communist ep supply points is the village of
Be Thu, roughly thirty miles directly west of Saigon on the Cambodian border.
"That place looks like the V. C. equivalent of leng Bing bong Binhg one
o the officer explained, referring to the huge U. S. Army logistical
complex outside of Saigon.
"The border line between South Vietnam and
Cab Cambodie runs right down the middle of the town."
Some sources believe a major ohunk of the Communist supplies needed
in the Sarg eroater Saigon area are shipped into Sihanoukville port in Cambodia,
and then trucked or boated across to the Communist jungled areas on the border.
Other sources believe the supply
immm northward-moving supplies are as
significant as those moving out of North Vietnam through Laos. This The
supply route from North Vietnam into Laos has reportedly been hempered in
cont wooks by two severe typhoons, which made truck movement around American
ab craters difficult.
K AND
CHANKI
11.90
will
end router
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Date
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1968, Sep. 18
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Subject
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Mặt trận dân tộc giải phóng miền nam Việt Nam; Tet Offensive, 1968; Tactics
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Location
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Biên Hòa, South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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10.9574; 106.8427
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Size
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20 x 26 cm
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Container
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B10, F39
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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
