BATTLE OF INDO-CHINA: Mobilization

BATTLE OF INDOCHINA

For five years the French have had some of their best fighting forces (including paratroopers, airmen, Moroccan infantrymen) tied up in Indo-China, fighting Reds. But only 40,000 Indo-Chinese volunteers are fighting alongside the French. Last week, prodded by French Commander General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, Viet Nam’s Chief of State Bao Dai moved at last to bring the entire country into the war against the Communists. Bao Dai ordered full mobilization of all men between 18 and 60. First draft call: 60,000, beginning Oct. 16. Ultimate goal: a national Viet Nam army of 120,000 to be equipped by the French with U.S. help.

Viet Nam veterans now serving with the French will provide noncoms and combat officers. Under the mobilization decree, all Vietnamese doctors, pharmacists, dentists and veterinarians may be called up; skilled technicians, lawyers, journalists, photographers will be put on the reserve lists. The French hope that the mobilization decree will blast some of Indo-China’s young intellectuals off their ideological fence. De Lattre’s ringing challenge to them: “Be men. Pick your sides. If your sympathies are with the Viet Minh go into the mountains and join them. If they are not, then join the new Vietnamese army and defend yourselves.”

Mobilization is a belated step in the right direction; it will be a long time before the Vietnamese army is trained and can begin to take some of the war’s burden off the French. For the moment, Ho Chi Minh’s Communist forces are licking the wounds De Lattre’s hard-hitting campaign has inflicted on them. The situation, however, can change at any moment if the Chinese Reds come to Ho’s aid.

At week’s end, General de Lattre took off on a flying trip to Paris and Washington. Purpose: to get more U.S. aid.