Page 19 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

which rnight grow even bigger in view of the reported presence of
another two PAVN divisions in that general area, the U.S. and Viet-
narnese High Cornrnands reduced by twelve hours an original 48-hour
Tet truce. Still, there would be no rnilitary activities on the part of the
Allies frorn six PM January 29 to six AM January 31.
The Vj.etnarne se Joint General Staff (JGS) and MACV,
however, took the precaution of ordering a series of rneasures for an
effective defense of the two noxthernrnost provinces of Quang Tri and
Thua Thien, These included arnong other thing s the expansion of local
garrisons to 50,000 rnen. Also an airborne task force was dispatched
to Hue and elernents of the U. S. lst Airrnobile Division were ordered
North.

Prior to Tet only the Second and Ninth Airborne Batta-
lions had arrived in the northern provinces. Only on the second day
of the Year of the Monkey (Jan,3f), did the staJf of the task force and
the Seventh Battalion arrive in the forrner irnperial capital. Mean-
while the U. S. Airrnobile Division had arrived frorn An Khe but it took
up a position frorn which it could not easily reach Hue. Both Vietna-
rnese and U.S. reinforcernents had been intended sirnply for relieving
Khe Sanh in the event of rnajor raids and thus did not get involved in
local rnilitary operations.
At that tirne it was the general consensus ol rnilitary
strategists and tacticians that the Viet Cong were only capable of con-
ducti.ng large scale operations for a short tirne frorn bases of opera-
tion located along the borders. Any attacks of this nature were doorned
to failure. Wi.th forces disposed in this way it was certain that the ene-
rny could gain nothing of irnportance as the situation in progress so
indicated.
As to the in-country operation, it was estirnated in staff
planning that the enerny force stationed within the country were able
to rnount rnultibattalion-si ze attacks airned at creating rePercussions
within the population. They were only capable of launching attacks for
short periods of tirne. Large scale or long terrn attacks doorned thern
to de struction.
The balance of forces as well as the general situation
in South Vietnarn, after the seesaw battles at Con Tien and Dakto and
the friendly victories at Loc Ninh and Phuoc Qua, seerned to indicate
a favorable trend that would ultirnately result in the victorious conclu-
sion of the war for the friendly side.

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