March 20, 1969

Ray says he plans to seek rev of his guilty plea, lr to Battle; says he has dismissed Forman as his lawyer and has been in touch with his former lawyer A J Hanes Sr; Battle notes he earlier predicted Ray would seek some course of action after his conviction; Tenn law provides for 30-day rev period

Allied forces, seeking to clear Michelin plantation of enemy troops, kill 114 enemy; sweep through area described as rest and refitting camp used by guerrilla forces for last 20 yrs; sweep is part of operation to check enemy threat to Saigon; 32 enemy killed near Trangbang; 12 US marines killed after enemy attack on camp near Anhoa; 72 enemy killed; enemy shells 30 targets during night; fight for plantation said to go back to end of World War II; S Vietnamese Govt has left guerrillas alone because they were deeply entrenched in plantation and rooting them out would have meant destruction of plantation; N Vietnamese troops said to have begun moving into plantation at beginning of enemy offensive; shooting of plantation official said to violate accommodation on plantation; details on operation; enemy gunners hit Danang with 21 rockets; map; illus

Sec Stewart, facing hostile questions in Commons, defends invasion, called Operation Sheepskin, as justified under GB's continuing responsibilities for former colony's external affairs; holds Lee will remain in Anguilla for 'number of yrs' though troops will not remain very long; makes distinction between mil action against Anguilla and one against rebellious Rhodesia, says Govt knew Anguilla action would be easy with little chance of bloodshed; says GB seeks to enable Anguillans to avoid being intimidated and ruled by 'armed minority' and 'some disreputable characters from outside the state'; terms Whitlock's use of word, Mafia, an exaggeration; scores Conservative MP N Birch for joking about situation; Brit officials rept that Caribbean nations had been informed of action and that US had stressed need for stability in area