> V * *;^* o 't .r^ ' -.y ‘ l / y - - : V V 4. Suptttng Irralb Manchester—A City of Village Charm PRICEi nFTEEN CENTS mM- mm. MANCHESTER, CONN., THURSDAY, MAY 15,1975- VOL. XCIV, No. 192 THIRTY.TWO PAGES — TWO SECTIONS * • 3 ^ i # P Mayaguez Rescue Operation ( ' m m Completed by Marine Force ’('M By HELEN THOMAS attempts to send helicopters in for the Defense Secretary James Schlesinger at bodian gunboats Wednesday and drove UPI White House Reporter Marines were repulsed by heavy Com­ an early morning news conference called others away. Marines boarded the WASHINGTON (UPI) - Helicopters munist gunfire from the island. the operation “entirely successful” and Mayaguez near the tiny island of Koh Tang flying after dark today rescued a Marine paid tribute to the “professional skill” of 30 miles off the Cambrian coastline. The Some of the wounded were evacuated assault force from under heavy Com­ vessel was unoccupied but there was early, and'indications were that at least the Marines. munist gunfire on Koh Tang island off the Ford drew strong bipartisan praise from warm food still in the galley. eight wounded were among those Marines Cambodian coast, the Pentagon said. Congress for ordering the rescue after The Marines were landed on Koh Tang still on the island. But the Pentagon said Pentagon spokesman Joseph Laitin said diplomatic efforts fail^ to get the ship, by helicopter and Navy fighters bombed the assault force was “not pinned down.” the last helicopter took off at 9:10 a.m. captured in international waters Monday. an airfield on the Cambodian mainland in President Ford, carefully observing the EDT from the little island and landed 10 Presidential aides said the use of an effort to forestall any Cambodian air 1973 War Powers Act which requires the minutes later on the deck of the carrier American warships, aircraft and Marines support to the island. Schlesinger said 17 chief executive to explain to Congress any Coral Sea about 10 miles out in the Gulf of underscored his promise that the United Cambodian airplanes were destroyed, military action, today officially sent to the Siam. States will not retreat from potential many of them small craft. Senate and the House his report of his Laitin said military officials believe adversaries following debacles in Cam­ The attacks Wednesday night, successful order to retake the Mayaguez. that helicopter c arri^ the last of ap­ bodia and Vietnam. Washington time, apparently convinced proximately 200 Marines put on the island Ford’s two-page letter did not substan­ More than 12 hours after the island the captors to release the crewmen. A Wednesday night as part of a successful tially go beyond his earlier public assault at 7:20 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the Thai fishing boat with a white flag flying military effort to free the American statements but summarized the use of Pentagon reported that several attempts approached the destroyer USS Wilson. The merchant ship Mayaguez and its crew of force within 48 hours of the first action as to remove a force of nearly 200 Marines by fishing boat carried the 40 American and 40 Americans from their Cambodian cap- required by the, legislation. helicopter had been beaten back by com­ five Thai crewmen. tors. Marines boarded the Mayaguez from an munist ground fire from the island. But ’The Mayaguez was towed out of the area At least one Marine, and maybe two, American destroyer at mid-morning Asia the Pentagon said the Marines were “not and it boilers restoked to resume the died in the day-long battle and “many” time (Wednesday night EDT) and others pinned down.” voyage to Hong Kong. were wounded, the Pentagon said. were landed on the island in two waves by President Ford ordered the recapture of “I have now received information that Laitin said the destroyers Holt and helicopter. ’Three helicopters were lost the Mayaguez Wednesday night after two the vessel has been recovered intact and use Car Retrieved from Globe Hollow Wilson, both steaming less than 1,000 and two damaged in the assault. days of diplomatic relations failed and the that the entire crew has been rescued,” yards off the shore of the island, would The Mayaguez crew — 40 Americans Khmer Rouge government in Camobdia Ford said in personally announcing the station wagon driven by Cynthia Keating of Glastonbury is raised today continue a search for any Marines left and five 'Thais — were later released by refused to return the ship. results of the attack shortly after mid­ from Globe Hollow Reservoir, where it landed after 12:20 a.m. accident. behind until a count could prove that all the Cambodians in a fishing boat under a After air strafing sunk three Cam- night. “The forces that have successfully Miss Keating, 18, told police she was forced off S. Main St., by an oncoming had been rescued. white flag. accomplished this mission are still under vehicle; she wasn’t hurt. The car took down about 130 feet of chain-link fence The successful night-time rescue — hostile fire but are preparing to dis­ before stopping, submerged in about 20 feet of water. The car was raised at riskier than the one the Pentagon had engage.” .ounge about 10:30 a.m. by Moriarty Bros. David Ozimek, a Moriarty employe and hoped to carry out in the fading hours of Ford today prepared a formal certified SCUBA diver, borrowed equipment from Innerspace Divers Supply the daylight — took place after initial report to Congress on the operation as to get at the vehicle. Investigation is continuing. (Herald photo by Bevins) Overseas Reaction required under the 1973 war Powers Act. He informed congressional leaders before he took the action and generally has Senators Approve President Ford’s To Mayaguez Mixed (See Page Sixteen) * By United Press International out of control,” the Guardian said A London newspaper said today the In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, however, Handling of Cambodian Incident United States was justified in military ac­ an official attending the meeting of Laotian Students tion to rescue the SS Mayaguez and its foreign ministers of the Association of crew from the Cambodians, but foreign Southeast Asian Nations said the Release Three WASHINGTON (UPI) - Senators from was grateful that Ford showed enough I’m glad he did it because this country ministers of five Southeast Asian nations diplomats viewed “with grave concern” both parties today praised President “guts to do what he should have done.” needs an indication of strength and were reported deeply concerned by the ac­ the recapture of the Mayaguez and crew American Officials Ford’s handling of the Mayaguez incident, The accolades came hours after Ford leadership in the President’s office and tion. by U.S. Marines. VIENTIANE, Laos (UPI) - Student saying the action should strengthen the announced on nationwide television that he’s finally come through with it. “The Americans were justified in going Thailand’s foreign minister, Chartchai demonstrators in the central Laotian town United States’ image aboard. the American merchant ship Mayaguez, I “I think other nations are going to leave to the limit to rescue their men and their Choonhavan, briefed the diplomats on the of Savannakhet today released three Sen. Henry M. Jackson, D-Wash., said which along with its 45-man crew was us alone and having not done what he did ship,” the Daily Mail of London said. Mayaguez affair, which strained Thai-U.S. American officials and allowed them to ixe he gives the President “high marks.” Sen. seized by the Cambodians Monday, had every little, as I say, half-ass nation in the “But nothing can quite wipe out this relations, but refused to comment to return home pending arrival of represen­ Edmund S. Muskie, D-Maine said the out­ ^been freed by Marines during a widescale world would be taking shots at us. And I final insult to American pride in Southeast newsmen. tatives of the coalition government to come “should be statisfying to all of us.” military operation that involved airplanes, think now there’re going to think twice Asia. Before the defeat in Vietnam, a Indonesian Foreign Minister Adam negotiate their demands, informed U.S. ^g Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, R-Ariz., said he helicopters, ships and troops. before they try it.” handful of Communist gunboats would Malik told newsmen, “We are very unhap­ sources said. l e “I must say I give him high marks for “I thank God we have a President who never have dared to seize a ship belonging py over the developments and it is The sources said Sanford J. Stone, the the way in which he handled it,” said has show guts enough to do what he should to the mighty United States.” something which is causing us great con­ senior U.S. officiqj in central Laos, had 20 ” Jackson, who is seeking the Democratic have done,” Goldwater added. The Times of London said, “This time it cern.” spoken briefly by telephone with officials The Weather presidential nomination in 1976. “The Jackson and Goldwater were inter­ would be difficult to blame the United Filipino delegation sources said Philip­ in Vientiane and said he and the two others table President deserves high marks and I viewed on the NBC Today show. States administration for what occurred.” pines Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo freed were ingood health and spirits. ichi Periods of sunny and of cloudy weather would be the first to commend him. He did Muskie and Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho, “ This was clearly an act of was particularly concerned that the Stone said the three told the this afternoon. Highs in upper 70s and low basically the right thing.” both said they were “gratified” by the out­ piracy—indeed, being carried out by the American military intervention had taken demonstrators they would stay at their 80s.