Visiting journalist observes
North Vietnam capable of long war
North Vietnam's military position is one of "tenacity and endurance" and the North Vietnamese are fully capable of withstanding more years of war, said Dan De Luce, assistant general manager of the Associated Press. De Luce and his wife visited North Vietnam in March.
De Lucie spoke at the annual dinner meeting of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce in Hoech Auditorium Tuesday night.
De Luce never heard a shot during his 18-day visit but did see many members of the North Vietnamese army, which he described as "highly motivated."
His trip was the longest and most extensive tour of North Vietnam made by an American journalist since the Vietnam war began.
"Their military is very skillful at camouflage. They know what they're doing and they get the best equipment," De Luce said.
The De Luces said they saw few weapons during their trip. Those they saw were either Russian or Chinese. While in Hanoi, they were permitted to attend a weapons exhibition which De Luce described as a vast array of sophisticated weapon systems. On display were MIG fighters, various artillery pieces, surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles, and many Russian tanks and trucks.
De Luce said the North Vietnamese told him they had been offered permanent installation of rockets by the Soviet Union, but they had refused because of their fear of the reconnaissance ability of the U.S. Seventh Fleet.
The De Luces saw no one loafing, and observed women building bridges and planting and cultivating rice on cooperative farms they visited.
"The North Vietnamese compare themselves with pride to
industrialized ants," De Luce said, "and to the bamboo plant because of its resilience and durability."
He added top priority is given to food production, and land is treated as if it were gold.
De Luce said American bombing had done obvious damage to the country, particularly to the highways and railroads, which the North Vietnamese are repairing.
He added, "They wondered why we didn't give first consideration to the many thousands of North Vietnamese war victims."
De Luce said whenever he asked about American prisoners of war, he was told the North Vietnamese government was under extreme pressure on this issue, but that as Vietnamese, thy "would not bow to foreign coercion."
The De Luces were accompanied by four guides supplied by the government and had to ask permission to take photographs because of possible military significance of the pictures, and because the North Vietnamese didn't want any of their people to be photographed "when not properly dressed."
They spent five days in Hanoi and 11 days on escorted tours of the countryside. They were permitted to visit the Demilitarized Zone where they observed bombers flying toward Laos and heard the sounds of distant fighting.
De Luce said Ho Chi Minh's portrait hangs in offices, along the roadsides, and in farm houses. "He told the people their mission was to proceed toward the peaceful unification of Vietnam," De Luce said.
He described the North Vietnamese as gentle and non-violent, and said he believed that if the U.S. had more understanding of Asia, it would not have gotten into difficulties with Vietnam.
Mourners march
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(Continued from page 1) tary Science building totaled approximately 500 persons.
A brief confrontation between marchers and members of the ROTC occurred in front of the Military Science Building when marchers began to lower the American flag to half-mast on the flagpole outside the building. ROTC members attempted to keep the flag flying at full mast but failed when they were out-numbered.
Two students who were "protecting" the flag, told the marchers that the flag could only be lowered by order of the President. A minor scuffle followed, and the flag was finally lowered to half mast.
The crowd then sat down on the hill directly north of the building to listen to remarks
from Bill Ebert, Topeka junior and student body president.
20 KANSAN May 6
1970
Ebert told the crowd of nearly 1,000 that the killing of the four students was "a totally unwarranted tragedy." He said it was "our moral duty to articulate our solidarity" concerning the death of the students in Ohio and the war in Cambodia. Ebert said the rhetoric does not work any more and that "we all share the guilt that killed those people." The students should talk to their parents and their friends and make them aware of what is happening here at KU and all around the nation, he said.
An announcement was made at the end of the rally about the proposed student strike this Friday against ROTC, the war in Cambodia and other oppressions facing our country and the students.
fifteenth street to Iowa and down Iowa to the Armory.
The marchers were given a police escort from Harvard Road to the Armory.
Several police were evident as the crowd approached the Armory, and two tear-gas equipped policemen were stationed atop the building.
The group then began marching to the National Guard Armory. The marchers proceeded up
As the crowd arrived, the flag in front of the building was lowered to half-mast. No resistance was shown by the police or the guard to the students lowering the flag.
The coffin was placed on the front steps of the building and the crowd held four minutes of silence for the students killed at Kent.
The crowd asked a representative of the guard to explain the position of the Guard's action in Ohio. He addressed the students and told them that no one should form opinions of the action until more is known of the situation.
STUDENTS SUMMER EMPLOYMENT
Pinkerton's, Inc. is now accepting applications from students who desire summer work as security guards in the greater Kansas City area.
To qualify you must be at least 21 years of age, 5'8" or over in height, and have a clean police record (traffic violations excluded).
Apply Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, Room 700, Bryant Building, 1102 Grand, Kansas City, Missouri.
(An Equal Opportunity Employer)
THE CONCORD SHOP
- Stretcher frames,
- ready-made and parts
- Artist's Canvasses 54" - 72" - 90"
- Deliveries to Strong Hall, Tues. morning and Thurs. afternoon
- Balsa Wood Bankmark Services
McConnell Lumber
844 E. 13th VI 3-3877
Dan DeLuce
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