THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000900270001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 29, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 23, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

TOP SECRET
Approved ForElease 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T0082t~000900270001-7 1 Q
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM
Information as of 1600
23 June 1966
ARMY and DOS review(s) completed.
PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
FURTHER DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT AUTHORIZED
25X1
25X1
Approved For a lease - 001-7
TOP SECRET
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A000900270001-7
Approved For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A000900270001-7
 Approve
Government action against the Buddhist Institute
slackened today after an early morning raid and the
arrest of several hundred persons. Late reports indi-
cate that nuns and monks arrested in the morning raids
were being released, and that the police apparently
intended to return the Institute to Chairman Tam Chau
after they complete their search, possibly on the 24th.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam: Op-
eration Y R TOWN, a search-and-destroy operation in
Long Khanh Province, began today (Para. 1). Search-
and-destroy Operation EHU began on 20 June in an area
about 20 miles northwest of Saigon (Para. 2). Opera-
tion KANSAS ended yesterday with a total of 79 Commu-
nist troops killed as compared with eight Americans
killed (Para. 3). South Vietnamese Operation LAM SON
283, the first big government victory following the
civil unrest in the northern provinces, ended today
in northernmost Quang Tri Province (Para. 4). A Viet
Cong ammunition storage area was destroyed by US Ma-
rines in the abandoned US Special Forces Camp at Ashau
in Thua Thien Province (Para. 5). A captured Viet
Cong document outlines procedures to be followed dur-
ing interrogation of enemy prisoners (Para. 6).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam: Af-
ter an early morning rai , government police continued
their search of the Buddhist Institute today (Para.
1). Elsewhere in Saigon, US military police killed
an unidentified terrorist; unknown assailants killed
the publisher of a Chinese-language newspaper (Para.
2). Some 9,000 Vietnamese workers employed by US
construction companies went on strike today in the
Saigon area (Para. 3). Quang Tri city was reported
returning to normal after government forces entered
the city yesterday (Para. 4). Although Hue is now
quiet on the surface, the government will probably
have to implement various corrective actions before it
can fully consolidate its authority there (Para. 5).
According to an initial report, a young girl burned
herself to death in Da Lat today (Para. 0).
Approv4d For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A0009002700p1-7
25X1
25X1
 Approq
III. Military:Developments in North Vietnam:
There is nothing of significance to report.
IV. Other Communist Military Developments:
There is nothing of significance to repor .
V. Communist Political Developments: Hanoi
has sharply attacked recent statements about
achieving a peaceful solution to the Vietnam war
(Para. 1).
VI. Other Major Aspects: Hanoi has recently
concluded a contract to purchase 20,000 kilometers
of field wire from Japan--more than sufficient or
one basic issue to all combat units now supported
by North Vietnam(Paras. 1-3).
25X1
25X1
Appro'ed For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A0009002700p1-7
 Approved Forease 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T0082100900270001-7
rt$avannakhet
Saravane ANCi NA
C A M B O D I A
'Y S?pone'
-,:: womm
..
?`''" r' `.. '
; ,,Cam Ranh
DapLat
.,
P
.,..~ YH1_I AN
Phan Rang
SOUTH VIETNAM
CURRENT SITUATION
0 25 50 75 100 M Ies
n 25 50 75 I 0 Kilometers
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A000900270001-7
 Approv
I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Operation YORKTOWN, a search.-and-destroy
operation being conducted by units of the US 173rd
Airborne Brigade began today in southern Long Khanh
Province. In the general area where MACV now carries
two Viet Cong regiments--the 274th and 275th--with a
total of 3,850 troops.
2. One battalion of the US 25th Division began
search-and-destroy Operation EHU on 20 June in an area
about 20 miles northwest of Saigon. A total of 17
Americans have been wounded and five Viet Cong killed
in the action thus far.
3. Week-long US Marine Operation KANSAS, conducted north--
west of Chu Lai in Quang Tin Province, ended yester-
day. The operation resulted in the loss of eight US
killed and 20 wounded. A total of 79 Communist troops
were killed, one captured, and 32 weapons seized.
4. South Vietnamese marine and army units con-
ducting Operation LAM SON 283 in northernmost Quang
Tri Province scored excellent results in the three-
day operation which concluded today. During the op-
eration, the GVN forces made contact with elements of
the Viet Cong 808th Battalion and possibly the 814th.
Reportedly more than 300 Communists were killed;
friendly losses were set at 37 killed and 104 wounded.
This GVN victory was the biggest and most impressive
since the Buddhist-inspired civil strife, which broke
out three months ago, seriously curtailed the war ef-
fort in the northern part of the country.
Viet Cong Ammunition Cache Destroyed
5. The press reports a company of US Marines
today destroyed a large supply of ammunition stored at
the abandoned US Special Forces Camp at Ashau, 60 miles
west of Da Nang in Thua Thien Province. The marines
flew in by helicopter and destroyed the cache in about
an hour and a half and then withdrew. They met no
enemy resistance.
25X1
25X1
Approv*d For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A000900270091-7
 Approved
Viet Cong Prisoner Interrogation Instructions
6. An enemy document entitled "Guide for In-
vestigation of Surrenderers and Prisoners of War"
was captured in mid-May by elements of the US 25th
Infantry Division. The document describes in de-
tail the value of interrogations in determining
both;the immediate and long-range courses of ac-
tion and the probability of obtaining the necessary
information from the enemy. If valid, this docu-
ment indicates that-the Viet Cong may feel that
courtesy and kindness, along with firmness when
necessary, will produce the desired results. A
US Marine enlisted man who recently escaped from
the Viet Cong reported he was well treated and
well fed although he had not been formally inter-
rogated before he escaped.
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A000900270001-7
 Approve
II, POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Government police continued their search of the
Buddhist Institute today following their raid earlier
this morning. Thus far, police have discovered tear
gas grenades, radio equipment, and knives within the
compound. Between 100 and 300 persons, including the
suspected killer of a policeman on 18 June, have been
taken into custody. At present, the government is
also holding some 45 Buddhists who were detained yester-
day after an identification check of those who took
advantage of a temporary relaxation of the police bar-
ricade around the Institute. According to late press
reports, some 100 Buddhist monks and nuns were released
this afternoon after their identities had been checked.
Police apparently intend to return the Institute to
Chairman Tam Chau when they complete their search, pos-
sibly tomorrow.
2. Elsewhere in Saigon today, US military police
killed an unidetitified Vietnamese dressed in a South
Vietnamese Army uniform who was attempting to throw
a hand grenade near a US military billet. Meanwhile,
an unidentified gunman killed the publisher of a Chi-
nese-language newspaper in the capital. The gunman
and an accomplice escaped on a motorbike. Initially,
police reportedly offered no motive for the slaying.
Construction Workers Strike in the Saigon Metropolitan
Area
3. Approximately 9,000 Vietnamese workers employed
by four US construction firms went on strike in the Sai-
gon area today for an increase in wages in line with
the recent pay raise awarded Vietnamese civil servants.
An initif,l report from MACV states that construction
work on aircraft runways and port facilities in Bien
Hoa and Saigon are being affected.
about 100 skilled Philippine work-
men also employed by a US firm went on strike ester-
day in Camh Ranh city.
the strike there i a y To spreaa among
namese workers, since they consider themselves well
paid.
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Approv0d For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A0009002700011-7
 Approv
I Corps Developments
4. According to the US Embassy, Buddhist al-
tars in Quang Tri city were moved back into pri-
vate homes today following yesterday's entry into
the city by National Police Director Loan and gov-
ernment forces. All other indications suggest that
the situation: there is returning to normal.
5. Although virtually all overt manifesta-
tions of the "struggle" movement have now been elim-
inated in Hue, US Consular officials have reported
that many political, psychological, and administra-
tive actions need to be taken there befgre govern-
ment authority can be consolidated. Among other
things, the government is planning to keep police
field forces in the city for the next few months
while local-police are reorganized. Several persons
already arrested may be tried and sentenced to death
for their antigovernment activities. The govern-
ment is also planning a show of force in Hue on 25
June by staging a military parade. Finally, most
of the government's regional offices now located in
Hue will probably be shifted to Da Nang in the near
future.
Another Buddhist Self-Immolation Reported
6. According to a US AID report, a 19-year-old-
girl burned herself to death early this morning at
a pagoda in Da Lat. No further details are yet
available.
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A0009002700011-7
 Appro
III. MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH VIETNAM
1. There is nothing of significance to report.
25X1
25X1
Appro'4ed For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A000900270001-7
 Apps
IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
1. There is nothing of significance to report.
25X1
25X1
Appro
 Approve
V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Hanoi radio on 22 June sharply attacked re-
cent: US efforts to achieve a peacef .lso'lut.on.in Vietnam.
The broadcast cited comments made this month on
this subject by UN Armbassad.or Goldberg, Secretary
Rusk, and President Johnson, and claimed that all
their talk was designed to cover up plans for fur-
ther escalation of the war. President Johnson's 18
June speech was specifically interpreted as threat-
ening a step-up in the air war against the North
and additional increases in the strength of US
forces in the South. The broadcast was relatively
abusive in tone and pledged Vietnamese determina-
tion to "exterminate the US aggressors." It in-
cluded a reference to the possibility of trying
captured US pilots--a subject that Hanoi has re-
cently emphasized in its propaganda.
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A00090027Q001-7
 Appro ed For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A000900270001- 25X1
VI. OTHER MAJOR ASPECTS
1. On 15 June, North Vietnam concluded a con-
tract with Japan for the purchase of 20,000 kilo-
meters (km) of military field wire, to be delivered
over an eight-month period beginning in July. Ac-
quisition of this quantity of wire will permit a
major restocking and expansion of North Vietnam's
tactical communications inventory and facilitate
the maintenance of communications security. It
might also reflect an intention on North Vietnam's
part to prepare for a long war. Based on current
order of battle estimates, the quantity involved
is more than sufficient to provide one basic issue
of field wire to all combat units now supported by
North Vietnam--including those in South Vietnam
and Laos,
2. The requirements for field wire could
have increased significantly in South Vietnam in
the past year because of the expansion of regular
Communist forces and because Qf the step-up in US/
GVN "spoiling" operations, which may be costing
the Communists greater losses of field wire. At-
tritional losses of field wire in South Vietnam,
at current levels of operation, are already esti-
mated to be in the order of 4,800 km annually.
In addition, the buildup of forces in North Viet-
nam and an expanded trainig program may also have
put unusual demands on the wire supply.
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A0009002700g1-7
 TOP SECRET
Approved Fori&fease 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826000900270001-7
Approved For Release 2004/12/14: CIA-RDP79T00826A000900270001-7
TOP SECRET