March 24, 1969

Sec Kennedy says he expects Nixon to ask extension of surtax in its entirety, TV int

Nixon, meeting with Bunker in Calif, seen eager to get fresh assessment of offensive

Justice Dept announces plans for suit to force Ling-Temco-Vought to dispose of all interests in Jones & Laughlin Steel in move to test applicability of antitrust laws to conglomerate cos; dept repts it will seek injunction to halt Ling-Temco tender offer for remaining 27% interest; says it will press suit to undo acquisition of Jones & Laughlin regardless of outcome of fight over tender offer; Ling-Temco spokesman repts co has already scheduled meeting with dept at which it hopes to offer satisfactory alternative to withdrawal of tender offer

Goldberg holds widespread undernourishment exists among city's recipients; only 332,799 recipients now get surplus foods; many participants in direct distribution program hold distribution is 'demeaning and inconvenient'; illus; Goldberg says city should have both Fed food programs; Dr C G King predicts PHS study will find serious malnutrition in city because many families cannnot manage proper diet on welfare allotments; Prof A M Butler will direct PHS study

Harlem Hospital, which has protested that it cannot operate on its city budget, turned away dozens of patients yesterday, and officials warned that "virtually all but acute emergency services" might be eliminated at other municipal hospitals.

Defense Dept statistics show there has been virtually no increase in percentage of Negroes in Natl Guard in last yr despite Defense Dept recommendations for urgent effort to increase it; one reason believed to be relatively small number of Negroes on long waiting lists of men seeking membership in order to avoid draft; table, compiled by Defense Dept, shows relative strength of Negroes in Natl Guard by states

new ground fighting and continued shellings reptd in 2d mo of enemy offensive; enemy shells 25 bases during night; hits several civilian areas; US troops kill 53 enemy in 3 battles in area about 45 mi NW of Saigon; S Vietnamese troops kill 42 enemy near Tayninh; action in other areas reptd; 2 US helicopters downed; US command discloses allied sweep is under way in Ashau Valley; at least 3,000 US troops said to be involved in sweep; illus; map

75 or 80 of her lrs to Pres Fillmore among collection of his lrs found in farmhouse attic, New Haven, NY; excerpts from some; her por

SAIGON, March 23 (UPI) -- The United States command disclosed today that an allied sweep was under way through the Ashau Valley, long considered to be North Vietnam's main infiltration route in the northern provinces of South Vietnam.