Sinews on the Gulf

"The government is well aware that this Communist danger may spread to our people as in the neighboring countries. Therefore, we must be in a state of readiness."

The speaker was Thailand's Premier Thanom Kittikachorn, and the occasion was proof of the conviction of his words. As Buddhist monks chanted blessings, the Thai leader stood on a wooden platform overlooking the Gulf of Siam and watched balloons lift a banner from a large stone embedded in the ground. On the stone was the inscription: "U-Tapao Airfield, dedicated to the furtherance of peace through strength and friendship."

Tanker Base. Part of a $75 million, U.S.-financed project near the Thai port of Sattahip, the new airfield features an 11,500-ft. runway, the longest and strongest in Southeast Asia. The facility will be home base for 30 giant KC-135 tankers. These circle in the vicinity of North Viet Nam to refuel the U.S. Air Force jets that fly more than 60% of all American raids over the North and Laos from four other Thai bases. Also to be stationed at U-Tapao are a troop carrier wing and an air transport unit, for funneling American men and materiel into the area. The thick new strip will be the only one in the region designed to support the B-52 bombers, which now fly 5,200-mile round trips from Guam for their missions in Viet Nam. Though there are no present plans to make U-Tapao a full-time B-52 base, the huge birds may well use the new nest as a turn-around point from where they could rearm or refuel.

Sattahip's harbor is being deepened to make it a major ammunition and petroleum port from which a pipeline will pump fuel to Korat airbase in northeast Thailand. The increased logistical flow will supply not only the dozen U.S. fighter-bomber squadrons now operating in Thailand, but also four additional squadrons due to arrive soon, raising the number of U.S. servicemen in Thailand to 30,000 by year's end. As the main funnel for the flow, the Sattahip sea-air complex will require thousands of U.S. personnel.

"Same Intentions." All Thai bases from which American planes fly are under the legal control of Bangkok, which is more than a little sensitive to publicity about the increasing U.S. military presence in Thailand. But the sensitivity does not go so far as to alter the regime's basic resolve. Added Premier Thanom at last week's ceremony: "The Thai government has agreed to cooperate with the United States in the construction of this airfield because we realize that our intentions are the same."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.