14 February 1968

OCI Assessment of the Current Fighting in the Saravane Area
 of Laos

Official reporting in Laos largely confirms
 UPI item 66 (14 February) on the fall of two outposts
 to the west of Saravane town.

one of the outposts fell
 early on the morning of 14 February, Lao time, and the friendly
 forces defending the other post then withdrew to a post
 closer to Saravane along Route 23. Lao military sources in
 the area reported substantial concentrations of North Vietnamese
 troops along Routes 23 and 16 which meet at Saravane.
 The strength of the North Vietnamese forces in the area is not
 clear, but probably at least a reinforced infantry battalion
 is involved.

There are two Lao armed forces battalions and two independent
 companies in the area, but the morale of these troops is low
 and it is unlikely that they would be able to successfully defend
 Saravane against a concerted enemy thrust. Lao T-28 aircraft
 are operating in the area, and apparently air strikes
 have been conducted against suspected enemy concentrations.

There have been persistent indications that the Communists
 during the past two weeks were preparing for a new offensive

F
 2/14/68
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