Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1962)
4 A -Ivaryona In Southtrn Orator" Beads Die Mall Tribune1' (hlbllshed tally except Saturday bt umroHD PRINTING CO 1 North fir St., Ph SP3-11 ROBERT W KUIUU IUB GRET. AOVeruunt aaan; Eiiuujj t. Latham, bus Mr EBB GREY. Advertlslnt Manager GIKAUJ T. LATHAM, pus ERIC W ALLEN JR.. Mn Editor EARL H. ADAMS. City Editor RICHARD JEWITt. Sportt Editor OLIVE ST ARCHER, womtn'l Editor DALE EBICKSUn. urcuiinpn wit An ' Indenendent Newspaper Bntorod aa teeond clase matter St Medlord. Onion, under Act at March 3. 1197 Iiwir-BIPTIOM BATES By Mail la Advance. Copt i0 Dally and Sunday 1 ytar iU 00 Duly and Hundiy 6 moa. l-ttl Dally and Sunday 4 moa. 4.20 ihui. Onlv On yaar a .20 mm fan law In Advance Idedford OAshland. Central Point Ear' Point. Jacksonville, cold Hill mMnlv Shady Cava. RotUS HIV T. 1 n mnii m RlOtAT rOUtOf. Dally and Sunday I year til 00 Dally and Sunday 1 ma M Carrier and Dealers cony 10c All Terma -an in u v."- "Brflclal Piper of City of MeaforJ Official Paper or Jackson County United Press International FuU Leased Wire I Talannnln NaWBDlctUTSe TOMBERrOr AUDIT BUREAU- or Lmi-uiift " InVertirln. RepnrMntatlva: w, unit anRffltTe J. ASBOC1' . ATES. Offices in Hew Tork. Chi. Antrum. -m NATIttJA. fOIT VK I Wc Medford and Jackson County History from the files of The Mall Tribune 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago. 10 YEAR AGO May 3. 19S2 (Saturday) "Smokeless orchard heating .! unfortunately not yet a reality," according to a state ment Issued by b representa tive of the Jackson County Fruit Growera league. United States National bank, Medford branch, Is the auccessful bidder on a $19S. 000 Central Point ichools bond issue. 20 YEARS AGO May 3, 1942 (Sunday) U.S. announces Lt. Gen. Jonathan Walnwrlght ha sur rendered Corregldor fortress In Manila bay. From Arthur Perry's "Ye Smudge Pot" column: "Straw berries are now on display and still out of the reach oi the average pocketbook, and of the jaybirds." 30 YEARS AGO Mar 3. 1932 (Tuesday) Elk Creek man sentenced to year in Oregon atate prison for "possession of illegal mash." Saturday specials an nounced by Medford grocery store include pound of butter, 10 cents; large ,'an of con denied milk, one cent; three fryers for $1, special Mothers' day cakes, 35 cents. 40 YEARS AGO May 3- 1922 (Wednesday) Medford Ku Klux Klan or ganization Invited Mayor C. E. Gates to attend Klan meet ing and hear a report on the organization's "lofty purpos es." Southern Oregon Federa tion of Women's clubs takes "positive stand against the showing of Fatty Arbuckle films" in this area. 10 YEARS AGO May 3. 1912 (Thursday) Medford Commercial club calls meeting of all persons interested In legislation to al' low counties to determine the amount of money they will spend for roads. City-wide cleanup campaign to end with bonfire, free band concert and speech by the mayor. Ctef To 14? Nine or fen correct Is superior; savin er elgftt Is excellent; five ei sit b toes'. 1. Does the Mississippi riv er have its source In Miss ktslppi, Minnesota, Illinois, or Uilo? 2. In geometry, a pentagon to a polygon having four, five, six, or eight sides? 3Was the Capitol, or the White House, the first Fed eral building to be erected In Washington? 4. In England, who presides over the House of Lord 3. What famous city was captured by soldiers hidden In a wooden horse? 8. Supply the S isslng word in "The Sidewalks of . . 7. Which would you say quacks the louder, a duck or drake? 8. Who was nicknamed "The Little Corporal"? 9 Did Ibe Treaty of Ghent end the Revolutionary, Mex- lean, or War of 1812? 10. A young cow that has not had a calf Is called a . . . . ? Answers! 1, Minnesota. 1 Five. 3. Tha while House. 4. Lord Chancettor, 9. Troy. 6. New York. 7. A drake does X WJ-AHCtlATIOM ORIAl THURSDAY. MAY 3, 11(2 Porter, Straub, Duncan Probably the most interesting, and likely the most significant, contest in the coming primary election is among the candidates for the Demo cratic nomination for Congress from the Fourth District. Four men are running, Charles 0. Porter, Robert W. Straub, Robert B. Duncan, and Patrick M. Flynn. As things look now, Flynn, who is virtually 1 At 1 , it. J A. A l.ti;,,!. -1 unxnown inrougnoui me for the nomination, and Porter, btraub and Duncan. Between them, it appears to be pretty close o . . . . . DORTER is a two-term former Congressman, who was narrowly defeated two years ago by Edwin R. Durno, and largely on the basis of a slashing, last-minute attgek involving a phoney Japanese plywood import issue which hasn t been heard of since. o Porter lost much respect during his last term, because of a number of his positions on foreign policy. Hindsight reveals that he was right more often than he was wrong, but still he gained the reputation of maiine hasty snap-judgments, not always on the soundest grounds. Certain other of his proposals such gs a chair lift from the rim to the water of Crater Lake drew hot opposition. On the oiier hand, than any other sinerle individual for the resurrec tion of the Rogue Basin aeveiopmenis, ana oiner mailers auecung me district, which tends to belie the allegation that he was an inefiectutal CTRAUB is a former highly successful county commissioner in Lane county, is a former chairman of the state Democratic ogranization and is currently state senator.from Lane county. He is an able, conscientious public servant of experience and integrity, and is both liked and respected by his colleagues and friends. One of his warmest admirers,, who was a close observer both of his performance as state chair man and as senator, declares he is one or the most effective men to serve in either capacity, though he was handicapped by a split within the party's ranks. This friend compares Dick Neuberger, whose grew as he developed the "basic stuff intelli gence, guts, imagination and, most important, political savvy that showed him what the nub of the issue was, how to broaden his sources of power, and how to get the votes." e e e o e rUNCAN is better known in Jackson county than the other two. With three terms in the state house of representatives, an unprecedented two of them as speaker, other legislators. He combines a compassionate regard for his fellow man with a respectful and sharp-eyed re gard for a tax dollar. He is good at compro mise which is the essence of the legislative process and yet will not compromise with principle. He is also strong-minded, and when con vinced he is right, he 11 stick to his guns. He is considered to be fair-minded, and honest in that when he doesn't know something, he'll admit it, and then set about finding out. A LL are of the relatively "liberal" wing of the Democratic party, Porter and Straub some what more so than Duncan. All are sympathetic with President Kennedy's programs and aims. All are basically honest men of integrity, with a genuine liking for public service as a career. Lach has had experience in public office, and is thus equipped to render high-ouality service. Each is friendly and personable, with a genu ine liking for people. Each is, to a degree, an individualist, doing his own thinking, and, al though willing to listen to others, making up his own mind. Democrats of the Fourth District are fortun ate to have such able candidates. The difficulty is to choose between them. E. A. Two. Judgeships The non-partisan ballot in the primary elec tion will have only two judgeship races. Theses are for Position No. 6 on the Oregon Supreme CoilH, and for judge of the new Ore gon Tax Court. The two candidal for the Supreme Court are both Circuit Judges at present, tjnel both pre sent ft record of experience and public service. They are Arno H. IVnecke of Multnomah county and Lyle R. Wolff of Baker county. 0 Since both appear amply qualified, we 'are inclined to accept the recommendation of the state's lawyers, who voted in favr of Denecke by a substantial margin in a State Bar Associa tion poll. o DETERo GUNNAR is the present tax court judge, anft his record has yet to be made, since the court has been in existence only since Jan. 1, 1962. But he has shown considerable organizing ability in setting & up, and travelling throughout the state making arrangements for tax court sessions. o He has also done a good job ol&informing the public on wfoat the court is intended to do. The other candidate , Portland Lawyer Ray mond L. Jones, who, according to his Voters' Pamphlet statement, also appears qualifiedO Again, we rely on the State Bar poll, which recommends the election of Judge Gunnar to his present position. E. A. aisinci, nas nine cnance the contest is between he is more responsible Project, for certain port congressman. him to the late benator influence and authority he has the respect of Dennis the Menace ' Letters to the Editor must bur the although under certain circumstances for publication Is pcimUiible. The Mail Tribune reserves the right to adit all letters with a view to clarification and condensation. Letters submitted for publication must not exceed 400 words. The letters printed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of the paper; in fact the contrary Is often tha case. Simple Solution To the Editor: Delinquent with your tax? Aw, Shucks! Pay 'em off with Blossom Buck.. George Dlstell Vashti Way Medford. Explanation" Asked To the Editor: I feel that Mr. Ottosen owes his fellow Democrats and voters of Jack son county an explanation There are several items in specific. First of all, your campaign chairman (and relative, I may add,) is not a member of your party. Does he not have enough faith in you ur your party to truly represent yiiu In proper fashion? Second, let ui In on th news. Who does your bipar tisan committee consist of? Third, did you know that you may set a record this year? To my knowledge you will be perhaps the only can didate in the county or the state whose campaign chair man will not be able to vote for him in the primary elec tion. At that rate your hopes for the general election are pretty slim. I should like to suggest you take a good look at your wor thy opponent. It may help you to realize that Mr. Stephens is a real Democrat and a great credit to the party he repre sents. You can be sure that Mr. Stephens will be spend ing his time in the office of Jackson county sheriff, work- ing for the good of the county as a whole, and not spending his time in self glorification. A truly conscientious and ded icated public servant does not have time to waste his efforts degrading his fellow man. Olen Rlsner 2448 Crater Lake ave. Medford Bloasom Festival View To the Editor: The Pear Blossom parade was beautiful, especially the bandplayers in sensible and very lovely blue suits. 1 liked even the pretty little half-clothed girls who not only looked chilly, but caused at least two old men (I won't call them gentlemen) to slob ber at the mouth as they gloated over the sight of those smooth little bodies. One man at my right worked his fingers nervously and I wish the par ents of those children could have seen the liquid fire in his eyes. I love art and must concede that the young human body is beautiful: too beautiful in fact, to go about uncovered. even tve understood mat. But some parents refuse to learn ountil their child's body is found ravished and torn. The right beast may be caught -sometimes the wrong one. There are insane men and those 'ho are natural murder ers and they are sly. We can not be present forever to watch over our youngsters. For goodness sake, parents, get hep to present day de cency! I am sorry I've been asked to express my Idea of Blosson-o Auctions - for the least saTJ, the soonest mended. Well, not my blamed corns; twcPon each little toe got baby buggled. bicycled and stepped on, my back gt pushed in by some one bigger thand am, and my ribs got elbowed - all because with 31 Ril5)s. in my use I. like other suckers, expected to get something for nothing. We do buy according to our overstocked bill yok. but when we purchased $23.91 wurm wr iciti,cu unc oios-; urn Ritrk M The woman Jiut ahead of us purchased $1.75 worth and received a handful of B B's. The merchants brought MEDFORD name and address of the wrltor, the use of a oen name or initial crowds in alright; If you don't believe lt, ask that busy cotton candy man. One pickpocket - a small girl, stole a friends handker chief from her purse. I eyed her and she threw it down. Her mother quickly moved her to better pickin s. I met many friends and we smiled regardless. 'Twas another day but not another dol - er - I mean "blossom buck". Pearl Spackman, Jacksonville, Ore. t Can't Win 'Em All To the Editor: This being my first letter to you, I'll try and make it short and to the point. I've read with much inter est, amusement and sometimes disgust your communications from your many readers, and have wanted to add my bit many times but never seemed to get around to It. Now, I can't keep quiet any longer. Yes, It is about the Blossom Bucks "booberoo." I sincerely believe the mer chants of our fair city or the persons who controlled the auction should write a letter ot apology to their many pa trons who purchased many articles they otherwise would not have, under the impression they would have some redeem ing or purchasing power with their Blossom Bucks. A great advertising scheme. no? But I'll give you odds It won't work again. Or anything resembling it. It could have been a swell deal and a good finish to a real nice festival (which we enjoyed very much.) Oh well, I guess we can't win them all. Huh? Ralph E. Clemans 1381 Spring st. Medford Fact and Fancy To the Editor: Opponents of Home Rule have regaled u with tales both fanciful and fantastic in their defense of the present antiquated system of government in Jackson county. Two of the most fan tastic yarns, funny if they weren't such outrageous per versions, are the following: (1) That voters would be deprived of their sacred right to elect county officials. FACT: True, a.few elective officers would become ap pointive. However, under the charter we would elect seven nonpartisan commissioners, in place of the present three (of the so-called County Court which Isn't a true court, hav ing lost its judicial functions some years ago). All seven would be accountable directly to the voters not only for their own perfornftfice In of fice but also for that of the departmental administrators whom ihey would BDoSlnt. i nis new ooara ot v.osmts-1 sloners would have Tower both to legislate (the very es sence of true hyne rule) which the present "County Court" does not have, and to administer the ordinances (laws) it adopts. Moreover. these commissioners would be accessible directly to the voters who no longer would have to look to the State as- semb' (meeting only everOTribune of uncollected per two years) for legislation to meet our county's growing needs. (2) That some kind of dicta torship would be set up un der the charter, and a social istic one at thatl FACT; Not only does the charter provide for the elec tion of a Board of Commis sioners immediately respon sible to the electorate, but also the important safeguards of referendum and recall. Among the most fanciful claims made by tome propon ents of the present, archaic MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDfORD. Nehru At Odds with Three Neighboring States; Red China Fears Part of Cause By PHIL NEWSOM UPl Foreign News Analyst Of India's half-dozen next door neighbors. Prime Min ister Jawaharlal Nehur at the moment is quar r e ling with two and on cool terms with a third. He is disput ing posession of K s s h mir with Pakis tan. He Is dis puting with Nawsoas Red China about 12,000 square miles o border seized by the Red Chinese but claimed by India. Deteriorating steadily are his relations with King Ma hendra of the neighboring Himalayan state of Nepal. The latter two situations are related and, as in the dispute with Pakistan, con tainable seeds of armed con flict which neither India nor the whole South Asia could afford. Nepal is one of three small Himalayan states-Nepal, Sik kim end Bhutan-sandwiched In the Day's News By FRANK The communist world pa raded its armed might from Moscow to Peiping. In Moscow, Soviet Defense Minister Rodion Y. Malinov sky gets up on what in Mos cow's Red Square passes for a soapbox and shouts: "The United States is pre pared to wage a PREVEN TIVE nuclear war, if neces sary." (A preventive nuclear war means dropping nuclear bombs on the other fellow before he has time to drop them on you.) "But" He howls: "Soviet power can defeat ANY aggressor." WELL, that's good. If, in these ticklish days, ANYBODY starts an unpro voked aggression, he ought to be defeated. This is no time for aggression. It's no time to rock the boat. Fc PEIPING, Communist China's foreign minister. Chen Yi, proclaims the unity of the communist camp in a rousing speech. One for all and all for one, he says in effect, of the Communist world. (While Yi was speaking, the communist Chinese were putting up a giant portrait of STALIN in Peiplng's Tien enman Square, where hun dreds of Chinese commies were massed. That amounts to thumbing the Chinese nose at Russia, where Stalin has been degraded as a wicked character.) IN TOKYO, snake-dancing LEFTIST students nrotest- ing U.S. nuclear tests clashed with police. Students parad ing in a 3,000-member dem onstration attacked police men with bamboo poles and the police struck back. There were no injuries. AND- In the Western Hemis phere Fidel Castro sends trucks and buses out into the Cuban countryside to round up tens of thousands of hun gry and unwilling Cubans to watch Havana's communist May Day parade and hear Fidel speak. That's one way to get an audience. WHY all the shouting? Whv all the fist-shaklns? Why all the tub-thumping? WELL, it was the first day of May. In 1887, the So cialist parties of the world chose May 1 as a day on which working people could show their unity by march ing and holding special dem onstrations. May Day was celebrated In this way by members of labor unions and of workers' political parties in many parts of the world. The day has become an system hy been that, by pre senting party lSsllticsn coun- ty government, we also would Insure efficient administra. tion, irPthat each party would keep nHi eye on Die perform ance of officials elected by the other party. What a sorry Joke that i.O If there were even a trace of substanay to this deceptive Claim, now account lor tne amazing revelations of thP past few days in the Mall sonal propsviy taxes amount ing to nearly half a million dollar? That's a pretty costly deal par those taxpayers who O pay their taxes and have to bear the added burden Im posed by those delinquencies -of which a large share re mains uncollectible. Such a mess would be quite impos sible under the charter. It is high time for a change: Vote for Home Rule on May 18: Arnold Eugene Jenny Rogue Valley .Manor Medford. OREGON between India and Red Chi nese controlled Tibet. India guarantees their defense and considers them within the In dian sphere of influence. Nehru's quarrel with King Mahendra might be consid ered a family affair except that so far as India is con cerned the king lately has been showing an unpleasant independence which includes closer relations with Red Chins. An April summit meeting in New Delhi between King Mahendra and Nehru failed to improve conditions. On his side, Mahendra ac cuses India of permitting Nepalese rebels to carry out attacks on Nepal from Indian soil. e Nehru is concerned primar ily because of Nepal's agree ment with Red China permit ting construction of a high way Jietween Ihasa, capital of Tibet, and Katmandu, cap ital of Nepal. He also is unhappy with Nepal's border agreement with Red China which ceded JENKINS Important holiday in the So viet Union - and elsewhere in the world where commun ism has become top dog. LET'S sdd here, by way of keeping the facts straight, that present day communism, with its glorification of des pots and despotism, is about as far away from the objec tives of the Socialist parties of the world back in 1887 as Betelgeuse is from this planet that we all call the Earth. Betelguese is some 300 light years distant from us. And, it should be added, one light year is equal to six TRILLION miles. Strictly Personal By Sydney J. Harris let Field Enterprises Inc. PERSONAL PREJUDICES Every nation wants peace, ane every nation wants its own way; but while nations are ready to risk great deal to get their own way, they are willing to risk very little to obtain peace. Whenever I meet a man who seems guarded, I feel that his spirit Is not at one with ltselfi for the guarded attitude does not so much imply suspicion toward others as it does lack of confidence In one's own strength. There is something ugly and fre; ' ish-looking about little boys who are dressed beyond their years, in shrunken ver sions of men's hats, pants, ties and jackets; the British cus tom of keeping small boys in knee-pants and children's cos tumes is much more sensible and attractive than ours. The psychological appeal of fanatical, e x t r e m i st movements of all types was most tersely and accurately described by Eric Hotter, in hit book, "The True Believer," when tie remark ed: "Passionate hatred can give meaning and purpose to an empty life." see No adage is more wholly wrong than that "Necessity is the mother of invention" for throughout history it has always been leisure and lib erty that were the parents of invention, not necessity. Real "equality of the sex es" it Impossible as long at lt remalnt a fact that any man. whatever hit handicaps, can find a wom an who will marry him, while numerous women cannot find mates; thlt matrimonial law of sufecly and demand will always ensure a buyers' market, in the mffn't favor. What one sees in a mirror is not onl's face, as visible to others, but a version pro foundly distorted in the mind's eye; as evidence, ifc ywu were 10 mc youweu walking down the corridor to day, you would not have the slightest shock of recognition, Of all parental virtues, patttnee It tha most Impor tant for the child's develop ment; to be Impatient with a child it only to prolong hit confusion, hit frustra-Q lion ana nit resistance -yet many educated. Intelli gent parents fail to realise what everr farm animal in ttinctively knowt about its young. It Is the unfailing mark of mediocrity to condemn what is beyond It; a certain type of mind must always call "fraud ulent" what it finds incom prehensible, and "artificial" what it finds unnatural to it-self. to the Red Chinese the north ern slope ot famed Kt. Ever est. But the highway la the more important. Nepaj) stretches along In dia's northern border for 500 miles and is the guardian of Matter of Fact By Joseph Alssas (el New York Haraltf Tribune Syndicate MAJ. THAO AND CAPT. SAVAGE Vlnh Blnh Province, South Viet Nam MaJ. Le Huan Thao, who rules this troubled p ro v Ince of troubled South Viet Nam, is a tough, h a r d- drlving, hawk- faced man. Unlike most V 1 e tnamese o f f i cers, he rose from the Aline ranks, and he has a long, grim experience of war. Although he is gener ous as well as deeply serious, he is the veryapposite of soft. Nonetheless, the Vietnam ese province chief rather evi dently has a soft spot tor his American junior partner of the last four months. Capt. Darrell Savage, an Idaho farm boy by origin, is a 26-year-old Ranger officer who volun teered for service in Viet Nam. His official job here is to train the self-defense corps the men of the village mili tia who are, at long last, be ing given proper arms as well as proper military training. Captain Savage's preferred training method is to go along with his men on combat pa trols into the free zones the parts of Vlnh Blnh province still controlled by the Com munist guerrillas. Besides these dawn patrols and his more routine training sched ule, the Captain has managed to participate extremely ac tively In Just about every medium-to-major engagement with the Communists that has taken place since he came here. Tie HAS also picked up a smattering of Vietnamese by exchanging Vietnamese lessons for English lessons with MaJ. Thao and his wife, during evenings when no fighting was in progress. Cur rently, he is also teaching English by request In the lo cal high school to a class which also includes a number of the town's leading per sonages. He has indeed be come something of a locol personage in his own right. If I have spent some time Introducing Major Thao and Capatin Savage,, the reason is quite simple. This report is wholly based on their ex perience and Judgment, which I did not at first find easy to credit. But after nearly two days of wanderine ahnnt Vinh Blnh province with the Major and the Captain, I feel very sure that they both be long to the small class of men whose opinions must be taken at face value, at least until and unless events prove them to be wrong. This is important, because both of them are enthusiasti cally confident of the value of the exocriment they have been demonstrating. If Ma jor Thao and Captain Savage are right, moreover, this bold experiment with "strategic hamlets" should mark a turn ing point in the long, hard war in Viet Nam. What then is a "strategic hamlet"? a a PSSENTIALLY, it is a com AJ promise, and a pretty Jer-ry-bullt-Iooking com promise at that. The basic Idea derives from British practice in Ma laya, where the villagers were cut off from the guerrillas (and vice versa) by forcible concentration in new, strongly fortified and closely control led village-centers. Exactly the same device Is Try and Stop Mo y BENN&TT CERF ' A RT BUCHWALD tells a story that underlines the skul aggers of fake art dealers in Paris, with rich but un- MftT u their I!1''' ViCtinS' 0ne sucn American fell for the old gag of tne masterpiece so valu able that thg government wouldn't allow its ship ment out of the country "It's Titian," whispered the dealer, "aTit.every museum director would give his eye-teeth to possess. There's only one way I can sneak it to America for you. Let my assistant Garachl paint over the Titian. Then, when youjwt home, have the Garacrii wiped off. and voila, you have youP priceless Titian." The delighted American Wrote out his check for s"00 000 fSmr issued ,he "VtoSS about the painting to his secretary in New York HrZVS'J rT htiv thi "We from New York: ri lved Garaohi and cleaned it. Found Titian X .ta.n- Found Gtrachi' Howfar,hoU,Ud I gor.,an- India's Ganges Valley. Com pletion of the road will mean that Red China has pierced the Himalayan barrier and will have an open highway to India's heartland. Nehru's concern, therefore, . is understandable. now being used here in Viet Nam in the most exposed and 1 dangerous areas. But for more general use, a compromise device was needed, because Vietnamese villages are such enormous, ( straggling, widely spread out agglomerations of humanity. To avoid the immense trans fers of population that would be required by rigid applica tion of the Malayan rules each village is therefore be ing divided Into four or fiva . or six "strategic hamlets," ac cording to the number of ' places in the village where the people have clustered fair ly closely together. Each of these nuclei of pop ulation Is then surrounded by a barrier of thorny bamboo, -cactus, and barbed wire. The palm huts of those who live too far from the nucleus are brought within the barrier. A small fort is built, for the ; hamlet's self-defense corps. The young men of the hamlet are lightly armed and organ- 1 ized into groups for night and day patrol. TJIINALLY a census is taken, T so that there is a clear line between those who have a right to be in the hamlet : and those who have no busi- ; ness being there. And that, really, is all there is to it, except the construction of , roads and bridges to give the provincial troops quick access to the hamlet in case of Com- ' munlst attack. With Major Thao and Cap tain Savage, I have now visit- : ed a whole series of these flimsy - looking protected .' places, which now cover about 40 per cent of Vlnh Blnh province. Their point is simple. Before the hamlets ; were formed, the peasants had no protection whatever against the two or three or , four armed Communists gucr- j rillas who would steal into ; their huts by night, to take J food, or to levy taxes, or to f drag away the young men as ) new recruits for the Commu nists' bands. But now, if the people of the hamlets choose to defend themisives, they csn defy theie night maraud- v en who are the key troops ' of the whole Communist at- ' tack In Viet Nam. "Furthermore," said Cap- tain Savage enthusiastically, , "they damn well do choose to ! defend themselves. In fact, ' they fight like hell, with home-forged machetes if they , have nothing else." THUS far, in this province, no strategic hamlet h a s ; failed to resist the commu nists, even when the attack i was relatively massive. In the past month, there have been . three such attacks, each In volving at least 200 of the regular troops of the Commu nist provincial battalion. In the first, at Ma Lang, the little tort fell; the hamlet itself was briefly occupied: but the Communist provincial battalion was pinned down long enough to be thoroughly chewed up by Major Thao and his men. And the other major attacks were no better than drawn battles. A guerrilla movement docs not make progress by fighting drawn battles or when t h e masses of the peasantry are protected from guerrilla in timidation. And this is whv what is happening in Vinh Binh province may turn out to be the start of something very big if Major Thao and Captain Savage are only right. not quack. I. Napoleon. 9, War of 1112. 10. Heller. 5
