‘Could Kill Every V. Cong And Lose’

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30962, 19 January 1966, Page 17

‘Could Kill Every V. Cong And Lose’

(A’.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, January 18. The commander of the U.S. Marine Corps, General Wallace Greene, said yesterday that unless the programme for civic pacification in South Vietnam succeeded “we could kill every Viet Cong and every North Vietnamese and still lose the war.”

General Greene, who has just returned from a 13-day visit to South Vietnam and other South-east Asian countries, emphasised that it was important that the programme succeeded in r country which was largely demoralised and disorganised. He told a press conference that more South Vietnamese soldiers were needed ‘ guard villages under Government control and give the inhabitants a feeling of security. But the general also said he thought that the Viet Cong were violating the guiding principle for guerrilla action

of the Chinese leader, Mr Hao Tse-tung not to alienate civilian population. “Attitude Changing”

Because of Increased Communist terror the South Vietnamese peasants’ attitude towards the guerrill"s was changing and this trend would be reinforced as the Saigon Government’s pacification programme progressed . He said the Viet Cong were generally well-equipped and had recently receiver! new small arms. These were Chinese-made and excellent weapons. The Viet Cong were hard, tough fighters, he said.