Evening star., 1962-05-12
9TH Fleet on Move in Laos Crisis
Carrier Force
kRepOrted
Going 10 Area
President Maps
Strategy to Halt
Red Advance
BY the Associated Press

ported today to have ordered
units of the United States Tth
Fleet into the Southeast Asian
area because of military ad-
vances of Communist-support-
ed forces in Laos. The fleet Is
stationed in the Western Pa
cific.
Mr.. Kennedy held an urgent
conference with his chief Dip
lomatic and military policy
makers today on the Laos crisis
and possible moves to deal with
the situation on both the dip
lomatic and military fronts.
Word spread in the capital,
meanwhile, that Mr.. Kennedy
had already given the order for
an aircraft carrier task force to
move into the Southeast Asian
area and be ready for further
action.
Such action could include
putting a battle group ashore
in Thailand, informants here
said. If that United States ally
wanted reinforcement against
the dangers of Communist
troops moving over the border
from Laos in their pursuit Of re-
treating Lao government forces.
Intervention Possible
In official quarters here
there was still talk of possible
direct United States military
Intervention in Laos, although
any such move would be taken
reluctantly.
The rapid collapse OF resist
ance by pro-Western Lao gov
ernment troops in the north
western part of the country
indicated that even If American
forces were sent in, they would
have little base on which to
build q new position.
The Communist troops now
hold a little more than two
thirds Of Laos by United States
official estimate, and Ameri-
can-supplied royal Lao govern
ment forces a little less than
one-third.
The major objective of United
States policy. officials said,
still is to halt the fighting, re-
store the cease fire. and try
to revive negotiations for a
neutralist government.
For this political purpose, a
reappearance of substantial
United States military strength
in the area force was consid-
cred necessary.
Part Of the 7th Fleet purpose,
therefore, would be to make a
demonstration Of power as a
way Of showing Russia and Red
China that the United States
has interests and commitments
In Southeast Asia which it in
tends to fulfill.
Another purpose which off,
cials said is equally significant
is to get combat units, includ-
ing seaborne fighting forces
which could be put ashore
quickly, into position for pos
sible action.
In this sense the task force
movement was considered prep
aratory to steps under consid-
Grafton at today's conference.
Heading the group Of advisers
meeting with the President
were Vice President johnson.
Secretary Of State Rusk, Secre-
tary Of Defense Mcnamara, and
Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer.
chairman Of the Joint chiefs of
staff.
Hartman, Ball Attend
Also attending were Under
secretary of State George w.
Ball. Assistant Secretary w.
Averell Hartman, Gen. Max
well D. Taylor. the Presidents
personal military adviser, and
Charles E. Bohlen. the State
Departments Soviet affairs ex-
pert.
Mr.. Rusk, Mr.. Mcnamara and
Gen. Lemnitzer returned only
last night from trips around
the world for allied consulta-
ton in Europe and the Far
East.
Mr.. Mcnamara and Gen.
Lemnitzer stopped over In
Thailand and also toured en-
battled areas of South Wet
Nam.
In the past the United States
has avoided direct military in
tervention on behalf Of the
See POLICY, Page Az