751G.5/3–1454: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
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1683. Repeated information Paris 521. The long expected Viet Minh attack on Dien Bien Phu, the “Verdun” which the French military command threw up in the “Thai country” in northern Indochina early last winter, began last evening at 6 o’clock, according to Ambassador Dejean who returned from Paris yesterday morning.
The Viet Minh now have approximately four divisions investing Dien [Bien] Phu. He said yesterday evening they attacked in force the southern outpost of Dien Bien Phu and two of its three northern outposts. The Viet Minh were bloodily repulsed on the southern outpost and on a northwestern outpost. But after heavy artillery preparation and an all-night attack they succeeded in occupying the northwestern outpost and destroyed three of the four companies of the Foreign Legion garrisoning it.
Today the French Command parachuted in an additional battalion and will attempt within 24 hours to retake the lost post. Some eighteen B–26’s have been bombarding the outpost preparing the eventual French counterattack on it.
Dejean is confident that the French will be able to hold Dien Bien Phu because of the strength of its fortifications and its fire-power and inflict heavy losses on the attackers. Everything indicates that the Viet Minh will make a resolute attempt to take Dien Bien Phu. The Viet Minh have brought up approximately twenty 105’s and some thirty 75’s. In addition they have a fair number of ACA 37’s. According [Page 1120] French intelligence Viet Minh have at Dien Bien Phu some 45,000 rounds of 37 mm shells and 20,000 rounds for the 75’s. In addition they have a large number of mortars and ammunition.
French have intelligence that Viet Minh commands in other parts of Indochina have been ordered to initiate or intensify harassing operations particularly on roads used for bringing up material in order to prevent the French from concentrating their entire air transport facilities for the air-lift to Dien Bien Phu.
Not only does Dejean think the French will hold Dien Bien Phu but he regards the Viet Minh decisions to attack it as evidencing elements of desperation and weakness. Since their bloodily repulsed attack on Nasan last year the Viet Minh have avoided attacking heavily fortified French positions. Thus, they refrained from attacking Luang Prabang and Muong Sai during past weeks when they discovered how strongly they were garrisoned and fortified. Dejean thinks that the Viet Minh feel they will be in a position of weakness when the Geneva conference opens on April 26 unless meantime they can show some military victory or victories. Hence the decision to attack Dien Bien Phu.
News of the attack on Dien Bien Phu has not yet been given to the press.