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Part of Article about Strategic Hamlets and the war effort, page 3

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The chtuation do ne less disheurtening in the provinces forming
the + Saigon perimeter. Im dink ne Soe the government retsino
control of only 45 of the 200 hawlets they cnvo thought it controlleds mm
Long #m provinces, watch Begine oniy 15 miles south of Jaigomyg the goveranent
hee cet sbeut 73 per cont of its hemletey maxy af which seowred Highway Boe
4 aonmecting the rice-rich dolte vith the e-pitel sity. sabe iahashen
nina ave now regularly 1sdd on the outskirts of cag Solgeme

“re controlf 200 yaris eig cither cite of Righmy Kee 4 during the
days” e088 ene mortocn wurking in taep provinces “Ani we dont? oven contro’
thet in the ax mightfiinge Ye now hold the provinsied owpStek ond ole
CAstetot oopitels at nichtesesnt wolze Inan Iudky to do thate”

te the Bamlet program m crumbled, op 44d the comet wolunteor
at\etin tnt Gotenned GR Dn ene provtae cheng the flabting etpength
of tho vilings mAl&tin do fifty pur cent of what At had Doone Mony
fought bravoly im defense of thelr homen and fontlien. Others ciaply
Gocorted their hemlotn, sme joiaing the Viet Congy rome “runaing into
the busts" Tn dune, some of them began turning thels weercons back to. the
government officials ant refused to somerets with the programs om.
venpons lost provided on sreonel of shoigams end carbines Tor the onemys

The onpabilitier of the Viet Gone in worpomey amplions pereomnel ond training
hae ineronced dremntioally im the delta im the pact six monthe,

In efdition to the partial ooll«pse of the strategic hemlet programs
the government 1s now withirewing troops from outposts ani wat chtewers
which hod once defented some of the hemlota, bridgon, can-le ant roaine

Th the nine provinces of ZV Corps, 200 te outposte ond wotehtowors hove
deem withtromm, Unit strength withérwm ronged from 30-aen plntecna
to 100+man som andere (tore)