Friday, May 5, 1972
Moorer Quoted: 'Only Time Will Tell' Result Of Fighting
WASHINGTON (AP) --Adm. Thomas Moorer, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was quoted as telling Republican congressional leaders at the White House Wednesday that "only time will tell" the results of the current fighting in Vietnam.House Republican leader Gerald Ford of Michigan told reporters he emerged from the session with a sense of "cautious optimism."Ford spoke of American air and sea power as "equalizing the better weapons" and supplies of North Vietnamese forces and added, "It is my impression time is on our side."The House GOP chief said bad weather in the weeks ahead and supply difficulties for Hanoi's forces could end the current offensive from the North.Asked if there had been any discussion by President Nixon, who presided at the briefing about possible intensification of U.S. bombing of North Vietnam, Ford replied:"There was no discussion of that as a prospect."But he added that Nixon was retaining all options except use of nuclear weapons and reintroduction of American ground troops.Ford, who seemed intent on placing the military situation in its best possible light, said he was encouraged because, as he sees it, there has been no disintegration of popular support for the Saigon government. In addition, he said Moorer reported the enemy was taking very heavy casualties.The GOP leader said he believes Hanoi must be disappointed in that its forces have captured only one of South Vietnam's provincial capitals -Quang Tri.Their aim, he said, is to seize as many as possible as quickly as possible."Their batting average in this regard is not very good... The situation is better than might be expected.""Moorer Quoted: 'Only Time Will Tell' Result of Fighting" by (AP), published in the Pacific Stars and Stripes on Friday, May 5, 1972 and reprinted form European and Pacific Stars and Stripes, a Department of Defense publication copyright.