751G.00/3–1254: Telegram
The Consul at Hanoi (Sturm) to the Department of State
[Received 10:48 a.m.]
487. Repeated information Saigon 382, Paris 202. Paris limit distribution. This morning at about 0900 hours Viet Minh for first time attacked both civil and military traffic on highway leading from Hanoi to Haiphong, RN 5, in broad daylight. At point about 30 kilometers east of Hanoi, Viet Minh regulars in uniform and believed to be elements of Regiment 42 destroyed by gun fire seven or eight vehicles, including two half-tracks, military trucks and civilian cars. Number of casualties not yet known here.
Governor Tri said today that military posts all along RN 5 Anshan-Haiphong railway line were attacked last night. None fell to the enemy, but governor has been harassed all day by calls for reinforcements.
[Page 1117]Tri says that major Viet Minh push in Red River Delta, which was anticipated six months ago, may in fact be getting under way now. He says, however, that lateness of the season and fact that bulk of Viet Minh regular forces are still in western Tonkin area are advantageous to this side. Shortage of French Union reserves in this area is borne out by appeals made to him this week by two French commanders of military sectors to lend them National Guard units on emergency basis. Unfortunately, Tri has no uncommitted troops to make available to them.