Military Leaders Think U.S.
Ahead In Viet
EDITOR’S NOTE: How goes
the war in Viet Nam? What is
the outlook? This a report from
Washington and the third in a
series of articles designed to ac
quaint Texas A&M students with
issues to be discussed at the elev
enth Student Conference on Na
tional Affairs Dec. 8-11. An
other will appear soon.
By FRED S. HOFFMAN
WASHINGTON UP) — Only
four months ago, U. S. leaders
feared the Communists had vic
tory within reach in South Viet
Nam.
This no longer is the case.
These leaders, both civilian
and military, believe the mas
sive application of U. S. ground
and air power has stalled the
Red drive.
Some top military figures feel
the United States and South Viet
Nam have tilted the advantage
their way and are now winning.
But most-while encouraged
by what they regard as a pat
tern of military success for U. S.
arms — are stopping short of
claiming a turn in the tide.
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Cyrus R. Vance — reflecting a
prevailing view at the topmost
levels in the Pentagon — came
close to this point when he said:
“Militarily, matters continue
to turn toward a more favorable
tide.”
But Vance followed up this
restrained optimism with a cau
tionary reminder that the strug
gle “is more than merely mili
tary — it is political; it is eco
nomic; and it is profoundly psy
chological.”
In the view of most senior au
thorities, the basic problem is
summed up in the somewhat worn
phrase, “Winning the hearts and
minds of the people.”
Acording to certain key offi
cials, progress toward capturing
the allegiance of the population
has been minimal so far.
Knowledgeable sources have
said the regime in Viet Nam has
made some right moves in this
direction.
Secretary of Defense Robert
S. McNamara, the Joint Chiefs
of Staff and others at the top
are not minimizing such achieve
ments as there:
—Foiling a Communist offen
sive aimed at cutting South Viet
Nam in two at its midsection
and at bleeding the South Viet
namese army so badly that its
morale would be shattered.
—Inflicting such severe losses
on the Communists that they had
to pull back some of their forces
to retrain, regroup, reequip and
recuperate.
—Harrying the Communists
with intensified air strikes, in
cluding repeated bombings by
B52 jets, so the Red guerrillas
no longer are secure in some
areas that once were their strong
holds.
On several occasions, U. S.
soldiers and Marines have hit
sizable Viet Cong units hard.
But all too often the Commu
nists have managed to elude
sweeps by large forces of Amer
icans.
Some military experts have
speculated that the Reds might
revert to small hit-and-run oper
ations as their main tactic.
This would not be good news.
U. S. military leaders say they
are anxious to take on large for
mations of Communists, confi
dent that American troops and
fire power would make possible
a clearcut military defeat of the
Reds.
In the Mekong River delta,
the one major region where the
South Vietnamese army has
been handling the fight by itself,
the Communist Viet Cong re
cently have been taking the field
in battalion-size units and mount
ing more frequent attacks. This
could signal a new Communist of
fensive in a critical region where
for a time the Reds have appear
ed to be contained.
Although U. S. combat troops
Nam
have put strong pressure on the
Communists, one essential gain
has been lacking so far.
“We have not yet pacified any
extenseive area of the country,”
on official said.
He explained that an area will
be considered pacified — and thus
reclaimed from the Reds — only
when democratic political institu
tions are organized, the economy
revitalized and rehabilitated, and
local security established so that
regular Vietnamese and U. S.
troops can move out.
“Until we do this,” the official
said, “I don't think you can ex
pect the Viet Cong to conclude
they can’t win.”
Che Battalion
Volume 61
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1965
Number 230
Graff Outlines
Official Policy
For Bonfire
W. J. Graff, dean of academic
outlined Tuesday
the official policy to be used for
this year’s Bonfire.
The arrangements, reviewed
and approved by the Executive
Committee of the Academic
Council, are the same as last
year.
Undergraduate students will be
permitted to work on the Bonfire
three days only: Nov. 20-22. All
undergraduate classes will be
dismissed on Nov. 22. However,
graduate classes and classes for
third year Veterinary Medicine
students are not to be dismissed.
The Bonfire weekend will not be
considered a holiday for universi
ty employees.
In addition, juniors and sen
iors not having classes on the
afternoons of Nov. 17-19 may
perform preparatory work, in
cluding some wood, cutting.
At the request of President
Earl Ruddey, the Office of the
Commandant, the Accident and
Fire Prevention Committee, and
the Firemen’s Training School of
the Engineering Extension Serv
ice will participate in the safe
ty aspects of the bonfire.
The “formal” opening of work
has been set for Nov. 18 a week
before the game the center pole
is secured. Deadline for the
completion of the Bonfire has
been set for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 23.
Guarding of the bonfire will
begin after the center pole has
been erected.
The weatherman for the past
week has been cooperating.
After all what kind of a bonfire
would it be without rain and
mud?
Ticket Setup Explained
For Gash Performance
HHHM
HAND IN HAND
Knowing that social grace goes hand in hand foreground are, from left. Candy Parker,
with academic pursuits, Aggies turn out for Mike Shultz, Joan Phelph, Richard Adams,
dance lessons in the MSC. Pictured in the Jackie Dierr and Bob Myers.
Pentagon Says
Young Men Banned
From Yiet Nam
WASHINGTON OP)—The De
fense Department decided Tues
day it no longer wants 17-year-
old servicemen fighting in Viet
Nam.
Thfe reported reason:
There is plenty of older military
manpower available.
Another motivation for the de
cision appears to be that the
Pentagon has been getting some
questions and critical mail from
citizens and from Congress since
Farm, Ranch Credit School
To Discuss Ag Finance
Texas A&M’s 14th annual
Farm and Ranch Credit School
which opened today and runs
through Friday will discuss prob
lems and progress in the agricul
tural finance field.
Rex P. Kennedy, economist in
management in the Department
of Agricultural Economics and
Sociology, said the school is held
to provide commercial bankers
timely information to help them
AEG, NSF Award
Grants To A&M
Combined Atomic Energy Com
mission and National Science
Foundation grants totalling $30,-
028 will support the 1965 sum
mer institute in radioisotope tech
nology at Texas A&M.
Fred J. Benson, dean of the
College of Engineering said the
institute is a cooperative effort
of the Department of Nuclear
Engineering, Nuclear Science
Center and the Activation An
alysis Research Laboratory.
NSF will contribute $18,350,
the AEG $11,678 for the Insti
tute in its fifth year at A&M.
Dr, Donald E. Emon, Institute
director, said 25 participants have
been approved for the summer
program.
in providing capital needed in an
expanding farming and ranching
industry.
He said one of the discussions
is “Country Banks—Future or
Failure” by Edward M. Norman,
president of the First National
Bank of Clarksville, Tenn.
Norman is past president of
the Tennessee Bankers’ Associa
tion and the Tennessee Society
of Farm Managers and Rural Ap
praisers, and is now a member
of the legislative sub-committee
of the American Bankers’ As
sociation Agricultural Commit
tee.
Another speaker is Dr. A. B.
Wooten of the A&M Department
of Agricultural Economics and
Sociology who will talk on the
Texas land market.
“This prominent professor is
fast gaining a reputation as a
leader in land appraisal. He al
so teaches land appraisal courses
at A&M,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy pointed out that the
highly mechanized farms and
ranches of today require com
mercial bankers to make com
plex decisions on financing ma
chinery. Discussing this subject
will be William W. Phillips, presi
dent and chief executive officer
of the American National Bank
in Beaumont.
a couple of 17-year-olds were
killed in Viet Nam.
Senate Democratic Leader Mike
Mansfield of Montana, a former
Marine, called the order “a good
thing.” And Rep. John Conyers
Jr., D.-Mich., issued a statement
saying he had asked Secretary of
Defense Robert S. McNamara for
such action two months ago.
“Seventeen is just too young
for someone to go fighting in war,
although I admire and respect the
courage of the American young
men who volunteer at such an
early age,” Conyers said.
McNamara’s new policy is ef
fective immediately. He told the
services they have between now
and Feb. 1 to replace any per
sonnel in Viet Nam who by that
date still will be under 18.
A defense official told news
men that it is estimated the Army
has about 400 to 600 servicemen
under 18 in Viet Nam, the
Marines have 228 and the Navy
has about 30 at shore stations in
South Viet Nam. The Air Force
has reported one man under 18
in the area so far.
The order does not affect per
sonnel “on seat duty in contigu
ous water areas” which means
aboard ships of the 7th Fleet
operating off Viet Nam or to
overseas assignments other than
Viet Nam.
The armed forces are instructed
to cancel or change orders for any
17-year-old presently destined for
Viet Nam and to “divert them to
other appropriate assignments.”
This can mean assignments to
units in the United States or to
overseas units in other places.
Dining Halls Close
For Thanksgiving
Col. Fred W. Dollar, food serv
ice director, announced Duncan
and Sbisa Dining Halls will be
closed Nov. 26-28 for the Thanks
giving holidays.
The dining halls will be closed
for the Christmas holidays fol
lowing the evening meal, Dec. 18
to Jan. 3.
Memorial Student Center din
ing facilities will also be closed
for the holidays from Nov. 26-28
and from Dec. 22-Jan. 3.
Betsy Fisher, Town Hall ad
visor, explained Tuesday the
ticket setup for the Johnny Cash
show Nov. 24 after the Memorial
Student Center Council approved
the concert Monday night.
“Because the Cash show is con
sidered a Town Hall extra, all
persons attending the perform
ance must purchase advance tick
ets,” Mrs. Fisher said.
The Cash show was strongly
criticized Monday night by Joe
Buser, former students repre
sentative on the MSC Council.
Buser protested a decision by
the MSC Executive Committee to
allow Cash to perform here.
“The mention of Johnny Cash
will give people something to
talk about,” Buser said “and the
former students are against him
appearing here.”
Cash was released on $1,500
bond Oct. 6 after being charged
with smuggling and concealing
illicit drugs. The country and
western singer was arrested at
El Paso International Airport
after a flight from Mexico.
The Executive Committee asked
the council’s opinion on the show
and the council voted to allow
Cash to perform here despite
Buser’s protests.
Tickets for Cash’s Town Hall
performance will go on sale in
the Student Programs Office in
the lower level of the MSC at
noon Monday, and at all Bryan-
College Station banks Tuesday
morning.
“What most persons will have
to relize is that everybody must
buy a ticket in order to attend
the show,” Mrs. Fisher em
phasized.
“Even though they might have
an activity book or a season tick
et, they must still buy tickets.”
Tickets will sell for $3, for
reserved seats; $2.50, for general
admission; $1.50, for A&M stu
dents with activity books and
season ticket holders; $1, for
date tickets; and $1.50, for public
school students.
Students with activity books
and season tickets holders will
receive general admission tickets
for the reduced price.
“Just because a person has a
season reserved tickets, it doesn’t
mean he will get a reserved
seat,” said Mrs. Fisher.
“If he buys the $1.50 ticket
he will only get a general ad
mission seat. He will have to
pay $3 for a reserved seat.”
Reserved seats will be sold on
first-come, first served basis,
Mrs. Fisher said.
Prof 9 Committee
Study Pollution
Dr. John C. Calhoun, vice pres
ident for programs at Texas
A&M, is a panel member of
President Johnson’s Science Ad
visory Committee which has pro
posed a tax for those who pollute
man’s environment.
The panel made *the recom
mendation in a report submitted
to the President Sunday.
Calhoun was one of two Tex
ans on the committee. The other
Texan was Norman Hackerman
of the University of Texas. Cal
houn also chaired an eight-man
sub-panel for a study of solid
wastes.
“One of the main functions of
the panel is to assist in draw
ing public attention to the basic
nature and seriousness of the pol
lution problem,” Calhoun said.
“We hope the public will come to
recognize more readily the in
dividual’s right to have a clean,
high quality environment.”
Calhoun defined solid waste
to include garbage, trash, demoli
tion waste and junk autos.
“The panel was struck by the
magnitude of the nation’s solid
waste problems,” he said. “Each
person accounts for four and one-
half pounds of solid waste per
day in the United Staes. And it
costs the nation $2.5 billion a year
to handle.”
Calhoun said the committee sug
gested more use of technology in
finding new ways to reduce high
costs of disposal.
“In out affluent society, we try
to find things we can use up . . .
we are salvaging less and less
because it helps out economy,”
he noted, “but the result is big
ger solid waste loads.
“We could possibly grind more
materials like paper and plastics
for disposal through sewage
waste,” he said. “This would cut
down on collections but would
enlarge the sewage waste prob
lem”.
The panel also suggested a tax
on dealers to make it uneconomi
cal to keep junk cars in storage.
Another proposal was for re
search on recycling junk cars into
steel.
Calhoun noted President John
son seemed pleased with the re
port’s thoroughness.
“The President said the admini
stration will move rapidly along
the way to a cleaner world,”
he said.
Industry Conference
Draws Two A&M Men
Two Texas A&M representa
tives will participate in the “Area-
Industry Conference” Nov. 17-18
in Atlanta, Ga.
They are James R. Bradley,
head of A&M’s Industrial Eco
nomics Research Division, and
W. H. Allio, assistant research
economist for the Texas Trans
portation Institute.
Ags To Observe
Veteran’s Day
Special observance of Veteran’s
Day will be held Thursday at
Texas A&M.
Ceremonies in the two Corps
of Cadet areas and at memorials
at the west gate and Spence
Park will commence at 12:10
p.m.
The event will be coordinated
through the public address sys
tem at Kyle Field over which
“Silver Taps” will be played.
Corps units in Sbisa and Dun
can Dining Hall areas will pre
sent arms while wreaths are
placed on the World War I
Memorial at the West Gate and
the Spanish - American War
Memorial in Spence Park.
Cadet Colonel of the Corps
Ralph B. Filburn of San Angelo
and Deputy Corps Commander
John D. Gay of Houston will
lay the wreaths.
Following a brief commentary
on the Veteran's Day observance,
“Silver Taps” will be broadcast
and national flags in the areas
will be raised to full staff.
A campus-wide period of sil
ence has been requested during
the ceremony.
NASA OFFICIALS VISIT SPACE CENTER
Two NASA research officials visited Texas
A&M recently to inspect progress on the
$1.9 million Space Science Center under con
struction. Harry White, head of A&M's
Space Technology Division, left, discusses
the building with Dr. Donald Holmes. Pres
ident Earl Rudder talks with Dr. T. L. K.
Smull, back to camera, director of grants
and research contracts in the Washington,
D. C., NASA office.
Operation Opportunity
Continues To Grow
“Operation Opportunity” class
es are growing at Neal and An
son Jones Junior High Schools.
The classes increased from 136
Monday to 191 Thursday evening.
Registration of new students
will be accepted at both places
through this week. Classes meet
from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday and
Thursday.