◆ SpookStack

ee Oe 2 eee ey eee cae ed oor we ov We tion ep ee FD-350 (ew. 3-16-63} . i . ? + ss : By Broxson P. Ciark - - Wks have always been hard on civilian popula- \’ tions, but somehow the war in Vietnam, with the employment of modern weaponry (including air power) on an essentially peasant country produces civilian suf- fering in a manner different Irom that of past wars. As one well-known international correspondent said to me in speaking -of the American effort, “It’s the invasion of the Martians!" : One result is that the country's primitive, provincial __ hospital system is overwhelmed with casualties of all ages and sexes. A New Zealand doctor told me as we walked through Qui Nhon hospital, “I believe there are more civilian casualties than all the military casualties on both ~~ sides combined.” This hospital did not have a Jaboratory orthy of the name; patients were often placed two to bed. Antechambers to the two operating rooms were trowded with wounded, some of them on makeshift cots’ and mats, al] waiting their turn at the tables. 4 A similar hospital in Quang Ngai performs major, surgery and bone repair but does not even have an X-ray {Indicate poge, home c newspaper, city and « aan FTI er a ne te ee oe ee ee ee - . a le de ee . o . ; o | ee i i + Wot tee "1 machine! Some American government aid reaches these p.1335 13h" r : hard-pressed hospitals, but they are sun by the Saigon Philadelphia : Rovernment and suffer from slowness, bureaucratic in- } ~eficiency, corruption, and the chaos resulting from the 6 : war. It seems ironic that while, in the interest of efficiency, Dote: 3/ 15/67 ., . the United States interferes with Saigon's military opera- . Edson: VOl.13;! tions, it respects Saigon's sovereignty in medical matters. anther: Br onson ‘ Before coming to Vietnam I was under the impression _ EdtercPrances | that the main fighting was taking place in remote, noun- rman tainous, guerrilla-dominated areas. In trips to cities and towns from the south to the northern city of Hué I found that most operations were undertaken in the populated _ and farming areas along the coast. I know of no-city in nd South Vietnam where travel beyond the city limits at night is regarded as safe. Except for air travel, American . military movements during the day are made in armed a eee nee eC Tere fe ee 4 ns eee etn meee ae etienrnaaneia ieee | a | ' ‘ L ee i : . ‘, \