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Vol. LXXXI, No. 139 Ann Arbor, Michigan-Tuesday, March 23, 1971 Ten Cents
Eight Pages
North
Vietnamese attack base at Khe Sanh
ARVN units continue
withdrawal from Laos
From Wire Service Reports
The base perimeter of Khe Sanh was briefly penetrated
by North Vietnamese commandos last night. The attack on
Khe Sanh, which has served as the base of U.S. operations in
support of the Laos invasion, was the first ground assault
against the base since it reopened.
'As the attack occurred, President Nixon told the American
public via nation-wide television that the Laos invasion had
already "substantially reduced" the danger to the security
of 100,000 American forces remaining in the northern part
of South Vietnam.
While North Vietnamese gunners poured 200 artillery
r o u n d s into Khe Sanh about 40 commandos attacked,
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Nixon says
Laos drive
'mile stone'
WASHINGTON (A') - President
Nixon last night declared the Lao-,
tian offensive a milestone in the
quest for the safe withdrawal of
American forces from a more se-
cure South Vietnam.
Nixon said South Vietnamese
forces are withdrawing from Laos
with greater confidence, and higher
morale than before now. In South'
Vietnam, he said, they will be
fighting "on their terms," with a
heavy numerical advantage against
North Vietnamese forces.
"As far as the danger to the
American forces remaining, par-
ticularly in the northern part of
South Vietnam, where there are
100,000 of them as you-know, that
danger has been substantially re-
duced. (The Laos) operation has
already accomplished that much,"
Nixon said.
"
Nixon discussed the Laotian op-
eration in a nationally televised
interview with Howard K. Smith of
the American Broadcasting Co. last
night in the first of several hour-
long television-radio interviews in
which Nixon plans to bring his
policies and views directly to the
people.
Nixon said the South Vietnnmese!
thrust into Laos could not be as-
sessed in the traditional t arms of
victory or defeat, since its goal
was disruption of Communist.,sup-
ply routes, not that of gaining ter-
ritory.
In those terms, he said 'We can-
not judge it even after it is con-
eluded. We can only see it in long
range perspective in terms of re-
ducing the risk of American w.th-
drawal and insuring the ability cf
South Vietnamese to defend them-
selves."
He said the media, ;hrough nol
fault of their own, had given a mis-
leading picture of the operation,
both by concentrating on two
South Vietnamese units that ran
into trouble and by not showing
damage inflicted on the N. Vietna-
mese.
Nixon said his interim assess-
ment, based on the advice of Gen.
Creighton Abrams, the U.S. com-
mander in Saigon, is this:
"-As far as our withdrawal is
concerned, it is assured ---
"-As far as the ARVN is con-
cerned . . . some of their units did
not do well," but 18 of the 22 bat-
talions engaged in Laos conducted
themselves well.
..The operation in Laos at
this interim period has made con-
siderable progress in achieving
those goals," Nixon said.
Some got inside the base and
about 20 were killed, the U.S.
command in Saigon said.
However, field reports said sev-
eral helicopters were destroyed by
shells or satchel charges planted
by the North Vietnamese. Less
than a dozen Americans were kill-
ed or wounded, U.S. officials said.
It was the ninth consecutive day
of the shelling, but it was the
first time that troops had been.
used against the base.
Meanwhile, under an increasing-
ly fierce barrage of North Viet-
namese attacks, South Vietnamese
troops in Laos were forced to re-
treat yesterday to within six miles
of South Vietnam's northwestern
border.
In addition, the South Viet-
namese yesterday abandoned three
more fire bases in Laos, leaving
them only two bases across the
border.
The six-mile mark was reached
as a North Vietnamese tank col-
umn continued to chase South
Vietnamese armored columns east-
ward on Highway Nine.
Informed sources told newsmen
at Khe Sanh that the opposing
forces on the highway were still
about three miles apart but that
the North Vietnamese were hold-
ing up Saigon forces at a stream
crossing.
The sources said a bridge over
the stream had been knocked out
and a bypass around it blocked by
Hanoi troops.
U.S. tank units pushed quickly
into positions on the South Viet-
namese side of the border to block
any North Vietnamese, attempt to
cross over.
The retreat from the Laos pan-
handel has brought 10,000 S o u t h
Vietnamese tr0oops across the bor-
der' on to their own soil in the
past three days, the Saigon com-
mand reported. Only 12.000 men
remained in Laos from the force
of 22,000 sent across the border to
try to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh
trail supply network.
Field reports further said the
actual number of government
troops in Laos was below the an-
nounced 12,000, but no figures
were available. Accounts from cor-
respondents in the north said the
remaining South Vietnamese were
fighting every inch of the way out
of Laos.
Even official figures put out by
Saigon headquarters showed that
government forces involved in the'
Laotian drive had suffered nearly
1 25 per cent casualties among their
22 000 men in Laos.
U.S. military sources in the
north said the South Vietnamese
had about 150 tanks and armored
personnel carriers in the opera-
tion in Laos and now they have
fewer than 100. They said that
more than 50 had been destroyed
or damaged by North Vietnamese
tanks, mines and rocket propelled
grenades.
The campaign began Feb. 8 and
the withdrawal started March 12,
See N. VIETS, Page 8
FACULTY SENDS DEBATE.'
ON ISSUE* TO COMMITTEE'.
By TAMMY JACOBS
Senate Assembly, the faculty representative body, yes-
terday in effect rejected a proposal that it urge the Regents
to ban classified research from the University, and asked
two of its committees to make a further study of the con-
troversial issue.
Meeting for the third time in eight days to discuss the
question, Assembly declined to consider a motion submitted
by faculty members who organized a week-long fast to protest
the presence of classified and military research.
Instead, the faculty body called on its Research Policy
Committee to undertake a three-month study of the issue
and bring back recommendations to Assembly members at
-Daily-Tom Gottlieb
SENATE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS vote yesterday on whether to discuss a motion to end classified research or a motion to resubmit
the issue to committee. By a vote of 31 to 26, the assembly decided to discuss the motion to resubmit the issue to committee.
Assembly
classified research
vote
indicates widened faculty division
By MARK DILLEN the students who filled the Rack- Yet to history Prof. Sam Warn- a corrupt legislative organization,"
Daily News Analysis ham amphitheatre gallery during er, exemplifying those opposed to said Warner, last night.
Yesterday's close defeat by the the many hours of debate that all forms of classified and military And finally, there were the vic-
preceded the vote. Many were research, the defeat indicated the tors. They expressed hope the out-
faculty's Sente Assemblyofsso-among those who had fasted for protection of Assembly's "private come meant "reason" would tri-
posals to limit University classified ten days or among the 250 who interests" by a "corrupt legislative umph over "emotion" and the feel-
actions from a splinteredfaculty. marched yesterday afternoon to organization." ing against the military and class-
atosfwoasplered:.nacu-protest classified and military re- This assessment comes close ified research would be approached
Those who succeeded in sub-! search. cloe t "moderately."
mitting the question for further Aseavvi the sentiments of the more radical President Robben Fleming also
study claim their victory is a tri- Ater the vote leavg Engin. protesters who initiated their cam-
umph of reason; those who lost Prof. Elmer Gilbert's proposal the paign two weeks ago with a fast. gave his reaction to yesterday's
are still hopeful of eventually se- final one under consideration - Then, through the use of a "moral' events. "It is entirely legitimate to
curing a majority. All but the most one which referred the issue back non-violent tactic, supporters hoped review this policy of the Univer-
dissident faculty remain hopeful to committee - most of the de- to "legitimize" their protest be- sity, and see if changes should be
the weeks of debate will eventually jected audience went downstairs fore Assembly. made. And if the feeling among
yield "something everyone can live to the Rackham lobby. With the defeat of their efforts, he changed, that policy sh u
with." There, they decided to meet to- this significant minority is unlikely them to take appropriate action,"
However, among the group which night in the Student Activities to seek further compromise when he said.
spurred the debate - a committed Bldg. to determine what they could their fast failed to elicit any. Now
nucleus of students and faculty do now to further their campaign this group appears more likely to aAs for immediate plans, most
- disappointment is the hardest to against war research. A motion to challenge Assembly than work m
take. Many said they expected return to the meeting and voice within it fied and military research are still
their pressure on Assembly to re- objections to the Gilbert proposal - debating the basic question divid-
sult in an anti-classified research was defeated. "When an organization like that ing their actions until this point:
stateme. (Senate Assembly) is called to pro- should they attempt to persuade
statementh s moagrdwr Meanwhile, Assembly members tetishsoi.le n t oe bodies such as Senate Assembly to
Pehas hoe os ageedweewhose motions to lmt or curti tetishsoi.ale n t oe take the strong stands they seek
classified research failed, express- instead to protect its courtesy to gktst"ongmstant"ey se
or use "more militant'' tactics,
ed both disappointment and hope. its members and private interests, such as disruption, to force the Re-
Medical Prof. Donald Rucknagel. you have the perfect definition c gents to adopt their stand?
who was pressing for adoption ofst ss-
certain restrictions against classi- '
iire- A ---4rcn -1 4-'h.neauiniig t- 'Y
their June meeting.
In addition, the Classified Re-
search Committee will investigate
whether to change the methods it
uses to implement current guide-
lines on classified research. The
committee will report to AssemblyI
on May 15.
The Classified Research Com-
mittee has been the focus of the
research dispute, which flared up
recently in the wake of disclosures
that University researchers are
making significant contributions
to the new "Electronic Battle-;
field" used by U.S. forces in Indo-,
china.
The committee was created;
three years ago when the Regents1
adopted the current guidelines on
classified research, under which;
the committee must reject re-
search proposals whose "specific
purpose . . . is to destroy human1
life or to incapacitate human be-
ings."
Opponents of military and clas-
sified research have charged that
the committee has not properly'
enforced the guidelines, and have
asked that the guidelines be
strengthened to effectively bar all
military research from the Uni-
versity.
The motion approved yesterday
by Assembly did suggest one
change in the classified research
guidelines. The proposed change
would bar classified r e s e a r c h
whose "clearly forseeable purpose
is to destroy human life or in-
capacitate human beings."
However, it remained unclear
just what difference, if any, ex-
isted between this proposed guide-
line and the current one, which
bans research whose "specific"
purpose is killing or injuring.
An audience of about 350, most
expressing vocal support for the
proposals to ban classified re-
search, listened as the various
motions were discussed and voted
on during the three-hour meeting
yesterday afternoon.
Medical Prof. Donald Rucknagel
and social work Prof. Roger Lind,
who have led faculty opposition
to the research, presented a mo-
tion which stated that the Uni-
versity "shall enter into no re-
search contract . . . that requires
security classification by the fed-
eral government except where
classification is for the sole pur-
pose of providing access to classi-
See ASSEMBLY, Page 8
Meeting
called on'
facultyat
Students opposing the Univer-
sity's stand on classified research
have scheduled a mass meeting
for tonight to protest Senate As-
sembly's refusal to vote on a mo-
tion which would have banned such
research and to plan actions
around the issue.
Assembly, the faculty representa-
tive body, voted yesterday to send
the classified research issue back
to two committees for further in-
vestigation before it takes action.
Before the Assembly meeting,
about 250 persons had rallied on
the Diag and marched around cam-
pus to show their opposition. The
march ended at Rackham Bldg.
where an audience of about 350 at-
tended the Assembly meeting.
When it became clear the Assem-
bly had in effect rejected proposals
calling for a ban on such research,
about 125 students left the Assem-
bly meeting, discussed possible
actions, and then called tonight's
meeting.
Persons calling the meeting said
last night that the group will con-
sider ways of organizing opposition
to classified research for the next
Regents' meeting, ways of organiz-
ing support for the Student Govern-
ment Council referendum against
such research next week, and pos-
sible non-violent actions a.: Willow
Run Labs, where most of the re-
search takes place.
"Senate Assembly is no longer
viewed as a legitimate body in the
eyes of the .community," an er-
ganizer of the meeting said.
The meeting will be held at 7:30
p.m. on the second floor of the
Student Activities Bldg.
-For the last several weeks, stu-
dents and faculty have been or-
ganizing towards the Assembly's
meeting. Daily rallies, mass meet-
ings, and a student-faculty fast to
protest classified research all cul-
minated in yesterday's decision to
further examine the issue.
U.S. soldiers refuse u
spared Army discip l
'TrrmyITwT A T "Q
ine action
KHE SANH, Vietnam () -7
ty-three American soldiers refs
an order Saturday night to m
into Laos to secure a dama
helicopter and their comman
officer's armored vehicle.
The 53 men, members of Br
troop, first Squadron, First C
alry, American Division who
supporting the South Vietnan
invasion of Laos, were back in
field yesterday. Although thez
were spared disciplinary act
their captain was relieved of
cnmmand.
Fif- Mechanized Division, said the cap-
used tain "made an error in tactics"
hove that resulted in his losing control
iged of his unit when he became sep-
ding arated from it.
Hill told newsmen the current
ravo operation represents "a marked
.av- change in the war for these men
are . . . The guy who has been used to
nese bring the hunter finds he's the
the hunted."
men The general said some cavalry
ion, units which had been operating to
his the south of Quang Ngai P r o -
I vince had never hfnre faoed the
The two platoons of Bravo troop
moved up three times, but ran into
heavy resistance and pulled back1
to await their heavy weapons andt
air support. The third time for-1
ward, Poveda's armored person-I
nel carrier struck a mine and the
platoon became separated.
Before dusk, two other armoredj
carriers moved up the highwayI
and picked up Poveda and hiss
crew. Later. a helicopter made aj
forced landing behind the aband-
oned command vehicle, but t h e
chonned crew was evacuated.
fied research, told the adjourning
session that secrecy in research
violated the spirit of the Declara-
tion of Independence.
"It's the nature of academic-
ians not to move very fast on is-
sues." Rucknagel said later. "In
th- ]onq run . . . we may accomo-
lish more. A certain amount of
faith and reason will prevail."
Social work Prof. Roger Lind,
co-sponsor of the defeated propos-
al. expressed the same' hope -
ds'ite the fact thn committees
which will examine the issue will
be heavily weighted with faculty.
Expressive of this moderate po-
sition was journalism prof. William
Candidates seek council seats
11 111 (_,,1 1 Y W AnlJn
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article is
the last of a three-part series examining the
City Council races in the April 5 election.
By JAN FREY
The City Council races in the city's
fourth and fifth wards pit two Democratic
supporters of Mayor Robert Harris and his
past record against two Republicans who
support mayoral candidate Jack Garris in
his more conservative views on city policies.
Tn +h hoavil Rnnulican fourth ward.
a black protester, Hadler says the officer
wasn't culpable, specifically referring to
the short time span and the stressful con-
ditions under which the incident occurred.
Further, he states, "the rules under
which the police act are sufficient," and
there is no need for the mayor or city
council to become concerned with an issue
unless it is brought to them through nor-
mal procedural channels.
W.q.rrPn Lee