European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 3, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Ohton Alt trays strike Muu lightning daily Magazine by Nat Gibson up staff writer in a cold december morning 24 j years ago a Young lieutenant colonel led a tank column across the Snow covered roads of Belgium to re Lieve an american unit trapped in under Abrams military experts Seea greater emphasis on Clear and hold operations in Corning say this is the natural outgrowth of plans instituted by Westmoreland but unrealized because of a Lack of sufficient Only recently they say the Al lies were More worried about building up a Strong logistic base in a developing country and the construction of combat support centers. This phase is now past and the allies Are ready to of this development has been the rising percentage of combat troops among the 535,000 american troops Here and the transformation of the 101st an div into an air cavalry Are fighting More now because we have More men to fight on american spokesman said. With the buildup completed we can release Moremen for combat the new designation of the 101st give the allies More punch. With tiie More than 470 helicopters inherent in air cavalry status it can now move rapidly to reinforce anywhere in this increased mobility is evident throughout the country. Even the previously Road bound marines in the North Ern provinces now Are Able to think interns of flexible defense rather than Static siege prone outposts. A transformation is occurring in the South vietnamese army Arvn too. Many of these units Are being is sued . Made m16 rifles to give the firepower comparable to the communist units with chinese made ak47s.with Abrams in control the Arvn will Likely play a More aggressive Rolein the War. Military sources see them operating in conjunction with american and australian units with More and More frequency in the Westmoreland s Deputy. Abrams played the primary role in getting them16s for the Arvn and shaping South vietnamese units into at least adequate lighting condition there Are still a lot of problems to be solved with the Arvn. Such a Chicken stealing and their distaste for night patrolling but Overall 1 could say they have improved significantly of one military source about All military experts hero admit these improvements Are not go ing to Lead to a Quick end to the War. They say there is still a lot of heavy fighting ahead no matter what strategy or tactics the allies Viet Cong and North vietnamese have vastly improved their capability but so have the allies. But the allies think they still have a significant the Viet Cong is not going to quit tomorrow or the next Day Buti think he will Start paying More dearly for each Clay he stays in the Gume one source did not expect any decline m the level of terror said casualties on both sides will probably his predecessor. Abrams also believes Alt nation is the name of the game. Page 11
