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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1962)
Americans Train South Vietnamese Natives Editor's nola A can lury ago. tha U. S. cavalry used Indian icouli to light fellow Indiani during the battle for the old wait. To day, American Forces in South Vietnam are trying to train primitive natives to carry guerrilla war to the Communist Viet Cong. Military experts say the out come of the project may mean the difference be tween victory and defeat for non-Communist forces In the jungle-infested South east Asian nation. By NEIL SHEEHAN Plciku. South Vietnam -(CPliTo the average Vietna mese, the tribesmen who in habit Vict Nam's jungle-infested central highland are 'moi" savage. The word has a connotation of utter con tempt. But regardless of the alti tude of their countrymen, I he primitive, spirit-worshipping mountain people are the ob ject of a great tug-of-war be tween the wily Viet Cong guerrillas and U. S. special forces who are helping the beleaguered South Vietna mese government fight the Communist marauders. American military advisers believe Hie outcome of the struggle for the loyally and support of the 700,000 mon tagnards (monlagnard Is the French word for Highlander) may be the difference be tween victory and defeat in this ill-defined war to keep South Vietnam outside the Communist orbit. The Viet Cong have de pended on the montagnards for food and other logistical aid in their forays against the more civilized Mekong delta and inlo coastal regions. The U. S. special forces are 'Ty ing to train the tribesmen us an effective counter-guerrilla force to beat the Viet Cong at its own game. In Action American military advisers hope lo use the montagnards against the Viet Cong the way the U. S. cavalry used Indian scouts to help subdue warring tribes in the old west. Two companies of m o n I a g nard "scouts" recently went into action against the Communists and nine others are in some striae of training. Monlagnards, some descend ants of Indonesians who came here 1,000 years ago and oth ers of Cambodian slock, share primitive customs and relig ious practices but their 20 odd tribes speak a variety of languages. They live in thatched houses raised on poles as protection against roving animals and snakes. Woven reed and grass walls protect the multiple-! family "long houses" from torrential rains of the mon soon season. Monlagnard men basically arc hunters and many act ill prefer brightly colored loin cloths to western style shirts and pants. The women, often bare-breasted, perform most of Ihe domestic work, much of it heavy, laborious chores shunned by women in more civilized societies. Not Warlike These mountain tribesmen are not warlike by nature hut have not scruples about kill ing enemies who threaten them. U. S. advisers say they make enthusiastic fighters. The vast majority of the montagnards today live on ap proximately the same cultural level the American Indian did in the lilth century. Civiliza tion probably would have passed them by for m a n y more generations If Ihe jun gles and mountains they in habit were not so strategical ly important in the struggle lor Southeast Asia. The central highlands of South Vietnam dominale the coastal area to ttie east, the rich Mekong delta lo the south and lie athwart the main Viet Cong infiltration route acro.-s 1,11 !! MBMMMMWBaWMWIiiTIMMWaMM Village Variety & Garden Shop Hunting & Fishing ticeniet Issuod PAY ELECTRIC BILLS HERE "Medford's Only Independent Variety Store" Next to "Piggly Wiggly" Hardwood FOLDING CHAIRS Fine Quality Reg. 4.77 NOW ONLY tnm THURSDAY. AUGUST 30. 13f2 if .-. Wwiwm a'V 4. a 4 V4. V GIVES INSTRUCTIONS American military advisors in Vietnam believe the outcome of the struggle for the loyalty and support of the 7011,000 Montagnards ("montagnard" Is the French word for "highlander") may be the difference between victory and defeat in the ill-defined war lo keep South Vietnam outside the Communist orbit. U. S. special the northern Cambodian and southern Laotian borders. During the past few years the North Vietnamese have infiltrated thousands of crack guerrilla specialists into the area. This infiltration, American officers say, has risen alarm- gly since formation of Ihe coalilion government in Laos. Strong Bases The Viet Cong also have established strong bases In the central highlands from which they raid freely into the coast al area to Ihe easl. The even tual aim, American advisers say. is to gam control of a section of the central high lands and split South Vietnam in two. The war, the Ameri cans say, will be practically won by the Communists if tills happens. The only way lo regain con trol of the central highlands and deny II In Ihe Viet Cong, American advisers say, Is to gain the sympathy and sup port of the montagnards. American advisers claim, and apparently with great us tification. that if the montag nards were won over lo liie governmenl side the Viet Cong would he deprived of a vast source of food, recruits They'll Do ' THIS SUE CALLS A SAN6WICU?.' DRIER 7WAM ANGLO WUlak GROOM.'.' MAM ON RYE ASBESTOS ON bWINoLEb IS MORE LIKE IT MUSTA COME OUT OP A ROCK OUARRV.'.' But OH HIS DAY OFF ME TAKES OVER THE CWtF DEPARTMENT AN0 EVERVTWINu IS CHARRED BARBECUE BLACK.' -r-X Til -TT Brass Book Racks Perfect for the Student Reg. 1.19 NOW CLOTHES HANGERS .. . . I i ' - and intelligence. ! They point out. that any Vietnamese - and most of tlie Viet Cong cadre are Viet namese is at the mercy of the tribesmen, provided the 'Log Truck Driver Injured in Accident A logging truck driver was injured about noon Wednes day in a two-vehicle accident ! about a half mile south of the Lake Creek and Brownsboro I rds. junction, state police re- I ported. The driver. Charles Elmer Cooper, 35, of Klamath Falls, was treated al Sacred Heart hospital for injuries In his riglil leg and bruises lo his head. The logging truck whs fol lowing a pickup truck driven by John Franklin Klingle, 58, Lake Creek, as they ap proached a farm tractor op erated by Henry Meyer, Lake Creek. Botli trucks attempted to pass at the same lime, state police said. The logging truck hit the pickup truck, swerved lo 1 lie left, and traveled 370 feel, over a bank and inlo a nearby pasture, officers said. It Every Time By Jimmy H.itlo U LOOK.CMUM-WE VE I ' .--.t ccr-,-,nc ... a, i l Wc Aernrtv -n in V V nAMEi IS NtlTi 0 IRHJ wmuCD V WrTs?v.V PERIOD.'.' r-. K nnociFr) ' S J&A&&) TiiVL SLAP-TOuETMER 1 TIW -""t TWAT S "TUE ONLV IVUAT 15 TUIS? ; U JWAV TO COOK MEAT .' S3 AND TUE BUNS uOT apSu- iri , LO-VT EVEN TUE DOu , ANDTUb BUNSuOT TO BE TOASTED NICEAM -D ( Another too V- it.' .,U-.'UN1-HV.- mrmA mm i . .. ' 2 Day Photo Finishing Sftrvic POST OFFICE ALWAYS OPEN 771 Stewart Avenue 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. Weekdays - 10 to 6 Sunday 773-7002 CERAMICS GLASSWARE Selected Assortment 1 bktrt - Dlousc I Cress - Trousers I f 1 All YZ PRICE J TV v -V -a ! ' forces are trying to tram tribesmen as an effective counter guerrilla force to beat the Vict Cong. Here, U. S, Army Ranger Lt. Bruce G. Smally, 28, of Stowc, Vt., gives Vietnamese Cpl. Y-Bhung bayonet training in the village of Buon Ki, outside of Ban Me Thuot, while other Viet namese trainees look on. IUP1) montagnards are well-armed, and willing to fight. Accurate intelligence on Viet Cong bases and move ments through the central highlands could be compiled, the Communists constantly harassed by jungle-wise tribes men and guerrilla units de stroyed by superior forces when located, the Americans say. Love Land But unlorlunalely, the Sai gon government's policy in the past has largely resulted in alienating the montagnards. The situation results from the traditional attitude of the Vietnamese toward the mon tagnards. who look on the tribesmen as savages. STATE HOSPITAL Richmond A state hospi tal for the insane, located at Williamsburg, Va., is believed to be the oldest such institu tion, publicly supported, to be established In tile United States. BIG PROVINCE I Winnipeg The province of i Manitoba is larger than any stale of the United States ! mainland except Texas and is I larger than the areas of Mon tana and Colorado combined. 4 ' J I ) PRICE IX rv pe ARFPPvA1 4 BLAST FUHmACE?, , UNO HER 6RACi;S fi vyc; ,' I lie - clvps j.BMMMeri, 0 ?v jl ........ DT.l.:?ify.-uv. WA'. v-il--J w jf 7n V f The montagnards, a dark skinned, short people with the more angular features of the Indonesian race as op posed to the lighter skin and Chinese features of the Viet namese, love their land of mountains and valley covered with lush green jungle on which soft white mists float during the rainy season. They resented fiercely the intrusion of land - grabbing Vietnamese who came after French administration ended. As a University of Michigan study pointed out, the situa tion bears a close resemblance MADISON SQUARE moccasin vamp slio-on in b ' c H or brown smooth father. Sum 6 to 11, B and 0 widths. 8.99 ' 1 iT M 6 HI STORES ALSO IN EUGENE, MEDFOHD MAIL TB1BUME. MEDFORD. OREGON to the influx of American settlers into the west during the 19th century. Like the American Indian, the tribesmen were given "fire water" in this case strong chaume-chaume wine and then cheated of their lands and goods while drunk. The result was to create widespread discontent and a natural target for Communist subversion and propaganda I from the north. Communist, p r o p a ganaa promises the tribesmen that if the Diem government is overthrown, they will be al lowed to create an autono mous area of their own. Had Free Hand Until the American mili tary buildup began in South Vietnam in December, t h e Communists practically had a free hand with the montag nards. The government troops rarely dared venture beyond the safety of the larger towns and outposts. In February a special Amer ican counter-guerrilla organ ization with a headquarters in Saigon began to initiate proj ects, aimed at winning the support of the montagnards. A team of U. S. Army spe cial forces men and Depart ment of the Army civilians began working with the Rhade tribesmen around Ban Me Thout farther south. The aim was to convince the Rharies in the area, who were under the control of the Viet Cong at the time, that they could resist the guerrillas them selves and gain independence from Communist demands for food, recruits and intelligence. The special forces team trained and armed tribesmen ( and sent them back lo their I villages to fight as a defen sive home guard. Propaganda teams were created, a Rhade medical staff was trained and, as the number of villages grew, a radio net was created to tie them in and give warn ing of attacks. A strike force of 700 men was created as a mobile reserve. Has Paid Off The project has paid off handsomely. Some 113 vil lages around Ban Me Thout Exclusively at GALLE NIK AMP'S Shoes for every member of the family with the revolutionary new one-piece molded heel and sole GUARANTEED NEVER TO NEED REPAIRING MDIS0N SQUSC, R. 3 vlet In oiloid in black or brown smooth iMtrw. Sues 3i lo 6, 8 and D widths. 5.99 d 1 Uniflex molds an exceptionally long-wearing, non-marking heel and sole directly on to smart, dressy leather uppers, without stitches without nails. The result is a stronger, more durable shoe, yet so light and flexible it doesn't need breaking in. It resists dampness, won't soften or crack. Uniflex soles and heels are guaranteed never to need repairing because they will outwear the uppers -or the shoes will be out grown before the soles and heels are worn out. Who could ask for more? Open Monday and Friday Until 9 P.M Phone 772-7733 for Guerrilia Warfare encompassing 30,000 tribes people have been -won over and the village home guards now amount to 4,000 men. Other similar projects have been started in neighboring province:! and the eventual hope is io tie them all togeth er, denying the area to the Communists. The Vict Cong already have become so worried about the Ban Me Thout project that they have assigned a special battalion to attack the villages on the perimeter and prevent the organization from spread ing. So far these attacks have been fought off and the spe cial forces men have their lingers crossed. Other attempts to train spe cial montagnard scout compa nies as a counter - guerrilla force have met with less suc cess because of Vietnamese suspicion and discrimination. Not Paid When this correspondent re-' cently visited four of these companies in training at Tan Canh in northern Kontum province he found that two of the companies had not been paid in six months and had had 80 deserters. Most of the men were dressed in ragged, torn fatigues and lacked other essential equipment. But if the experiment suc ceeds, the Americans hope the scout companies will ierve as a valuable and highly mobile strike force against the Com munists, able to exist and operate in the jungles for long periods of time. The Communists also have made serious mistakes over the past year in dealing with the montagnards but the creaky Saigon bureaucracy has been excruciatingly slow to exploit them. Because of increased numbers of Vict Cong who have infiltrated into the central highlands and the consequently greater de mands for food and recruits, thousands of montagnards have fled their remote vil lages to seek protection along the more secure areas near the towns and main roads. Thousands of others have been taken from their villages by Vietnamese army troops and BLUEBIRD 3 evtlct Ik oxford In black or brown smooth leather. Sufs 8'i to 3. B and D widths. 4.99 A mi r 1 mm i i u ii a V KLAMATH FALLS, SALEM AND resettled in safer areas. Over the past year, it is estimated by American offi c i a 1 s, 96,000 montagnaf-ds have fled Vict Cong control led areas. Most of these tribes men are in dire need of food and medical attention which government propaganda promised them but which so far has arrived in very inade quate quantities. Negotiations have been go ing on for the last two months to commit 50 million piastres in American aid funds (73 piastres to one U. S. dollar) FRIDAY Come Hear The . . . TEEN WORLD VOICES from Los Angeles, California This is a very talented group of 30 Teens who also have a weekly TV show called "Teen World" TWO BIG YFC SSALIYS 7:30 at McLoughlin Jr. High SATURDAY NIGHT Hear A Teen Favorite ... DAVE GRANT Baritone, Trombonist, Film and Recording Star EVERYONE WELCOME BLUEBIRD saddle ox ford in black nylon vlvet, bfack Riove leather, white smooth leather, bUc. white smooth leather or ".wo "n water" tin with salmon sole. Stm 'i to 3, B, C atd D widths. 4.99 a NHH" MEDFORD SHOPPING CENTER to montagnard relief, but ara still bogged down in red tape I and the funds have not yet ! been released. ! Washington has agreed to ship 750 tons of surplus corn and other grains to Viet Nam as aid to the tribes, but this will not arrive in Saigon un til October, according to American officials. American military advisers warn that if the montagnards i in need are not helped soon ! they may return to the jun- gles and mountains and ba lost to the government cause forever. NIGHT FRISKIES classic smooth leather saddle oi'ord in all while, blackwhite or "soap 'n water" tan with sal mon sole. Also in black nylon velvet Sues 34 to 8, A, C and D widths. 5.99 PORTLAND i ':- ' ttrl 3m rdiii htm i m
