May 11, 1972

NYS Sen, 30-27, approves on May 10 bill repealing state's 2-yr-old liberalized abortion law, reinstating old statute permitting abortions only to save life of woman; bill, passed by NYS Assembly on May 9, goes to Gov Rockefeller, who has said he will veto it, in effect leaving current law in force; NYS Cath Com chmn Bishop E B Broderick, during Legis session, urges that 'exec action on bill' be taken after study during which gen public has added its voice to debate; Cardinal Cooke called on Rockefeller not to veto bill, urging him to recognize will of majority of elected reprs; Sen Goldin, who voted against repeal, says that issue is pol in part and repeal enactment would be carefully scrutinized by 'women, young voter, alert young men, older people'; Sen Minority Leader Zaretzki says that in light of Rockefeller's determination to veto bill, proponents should support modification of present bill to permit elective abortions until 18th wk of pregnancy; present law permits abortions until 24th wk; Sen Majority Leader Brydges, who is retiring from pol, calls for repeal of present law; says bill proposed by Rockefeller reducing time period for elective abortions to 18 wks would not be brought to floor during current session; Sen Donovan, principal sponsor of repeal bill, distributes packets of photos of aborted fetuses bearing notation 'what the unborn would like every legislator to know'; Sen Goodman says that because of present law infant and maternal mortality rates have dropped sharply; declares '70 law is 'life-giving'; Sen Ohrenstein deplores intrusion of religious beliefs into issue; Sen Gold distributes wire coat-hangers to other Sens; Donovan illus

Communist China, in its 1st reaction to Pres Nixon's order to mine N Vietnamese harbors, on May 11 terms his acts 'a flagrant provocation'

evidence is emerging that US intelligence was surprised by direction, timing and power of N Vietnamese offensive in S Vietnam; US Natl Security Council Intelligence Com reptdly concluded main enemy thrust would come from west to east against Kontum and not, as happened, from north to south across demilitarized zone to Quangtri; some sr intelligence analysts insist there was no 'intelligence failure' during 5-wk N Vietnamese offensive; assert enemy build-up has been observed and meticulously reptd since it began early this yr; other US intelligence officials concede N Vietnamese gained major tactical surprise and 4 to 5 days of virtually unimpeded advance by hitting where and when it was least expected

US planes bomb targets in Hanoi and Haiphong on May 10 and also hit rail lines leading from Communist China in continued effort to prevent mil supplies from reaching N Vietnam; clash with N Vietnamese planes; Saigon mil spokesman estimates 10 N Vietnamese planes were shot down; US command repts 3 US aircraft were shot down and 4 crewmen are missing; Hanoi radio says 16 Amer planes were shot down and 7 pilots captured; 150 to 175 planes participate in large-scale bombing raids; in other action, N Vietnamese, employing tanks, mount new series of attacks on Anloc; S Vietnamese 21st Infantry Div troops begin move toward Anloc; mil source says relief column is within 5 mi of town; repts it has been subjected only to light attacks; Hanoi radio charges US Navy vessels have shelled Haiphong; US denies assertion; 32 US soldiers are killed in crash of OH-47 medium helicopter about 20 mi northeast of Saigon; helicopter reptdly was being used as passenger craft; in Central Highlands, N Vietnamese troops launch unsuccessful attack on Benhet mil camp, northwest of Kontum; map shows mil activities during day in N and S Vietnam; illus

Pres Nguyen Van Thieu imposes martial law on S Vietnam, May 10; move follows a Pres declaration of emergency on May 9; appears to be part of attempt by Govt to instill sense of urgency in the cities and towns not so far directly affected by the heavy fighting; Thieu also dismisses Central Highlands comdr Lt Gen Ngo Dzu, replacing him with Maj Gen Nguyen Van Toan; Thieu has been under heavy pressure from US officials in Saigon to 'get tough' and exercise more visible leadership; Thieu appears to be making efforts to show firmer leadership and to replace those of his mil comdrs who have demonstrated weakness; US officials feel that Nixon has again taken the reins into Amer hands after having lost much of his faith in the policy of Vietnamizing the war; one Amer says decision to leave Quangtri was an internal crisis' of Brig Gen Vu Van Giai; says city was not even under ground attack when the army got orders to leave; Amb Bunker and Gen Abrams are believed to have urged Thieu to be more open with his people and explain to them the seriousness of the crisis; Dzu and Toan illus