Evening star., 1962-05-14
POLICY
U. S. Hopes Force
Will Halt Aggression
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Continued From Page Al
inside Laos, that country is
lost, these officers say.
II there is a war in South
east Asia involving American
forces, the Air Force and Navy
are recommending that supply
routes in Red China and North
Wet Nam be bombed. Although
the administration has not
crossed this bridge, President
Kennedy is not assuming thai
the Communists would be per-
mitted a privileged sanctuary
in their own territory.
No Plans for Reservists
Asked If the Southeast Asian
crisis could delay the release
of reservists called to active
duty for the Berlin crisis, q high
and responsible source said
today, You can put that out
Of your mind"
He said there were plenty
Of regular troops available and
that no Gallup Of reserves or
extension Of the one year tours
for reservistS now on active
duty is contemplated.
The Army battle group will
to the Mekong River is part
Of the 9th Infantry Regiment
Of the 25th Division based in
Hawaii. 1t is in Southeast Thai
land after having taken part in
Southeast Asia Treaty Organi-
zation exercises there a few
weeks ago.
Administration sources said
Secretary Of Defense McNa-
mara, when in Thailand last
week, told Thai Prime Minister
Sarit Thanarat that the battle
group would be sent to the bor-
der If the Thai government
wished.
The That's, shaken by the
Communist breach of the cease
fire agreement in Laos and the
Red sweep toward the Mekong
River border between Laos and
Thailand, eagerly accepted.
The American troops will
train" in a mountain and
jungle area along the river
about half way between Wen
tiane. the capital Of Laos. and
the air base at Ubon, Thailand,
1t was said.
Marines in Area
Mr.. Mcnamara also told the
That's that the United States
was willing to send another
battle group-perhaps Marines
abroad a fleet task force-to
Thailand to augment the one
already there. The Sarit gov
ernment today agreed to admit
the Marines. But there was no
word as to when they would
land. Gen. Paul D. Harkins,
commanding officer Of United
States military advisory forces
in South Wet Nam, is in
Thailand conferring with Of
fieials.
The That's, meanwhile, are
moving a 750-man ranger bat
talian to the threatened area.
American military observers
say that this is a crack group
Of modern, well-equipped jungle
fighters. Mr.. Mcnamara and
his party visited them last
week.
The United States is anxious
for Thailand to organize an
other ranger battalion 4mmedi-
ately, but the That's are stuck
with a difficult problem OF
extra army pay and tight gov
ernment finances.
Show Determination
The White House wants tc
show the Communists that the
SEATO nations will put up the
military strength necessary tC
hold at the Mekong and thai
American troops will be com.
nitted to the site If needed.
The message is aimed squarelS
at Russia. Administration
leaders believe that If Russis
realizes that the United States
Is about to enter the fight il
Southeast Asia, the Kremlir
will call off its Asian bloc ag.
gressors.
The detachment of 1,O0C
Marines moved into Southeas
Asian waters as part Of q TIL
Fleet aircraft carrier tasl
force. Other elements Of ths
powerful 7th Fleet were steam
ing toward the crisis ares