March 18, 1975

S Vietnamese Govt reptdly has decided to abandon most of central highlands, including Darlac, Pleiku and Kontum Provs, because area has become militarily indefensible; decision was made after 14 days of sharp mil reverses in area; 1 informant indicates Govt may attempt to retake Ban Me Thuot; other sources doubt that attempt will be made; there has been no indication of how swiftly Govt forces will leave highlands; some sources say Govt units are moving on little used paths and prov roads because 2 main routes out of area have been cut by N Vietnamese; decision to abandon area reptdly was made after Mar 14 when Pes Nugyen Van Thieu conferred with Maj Gen Pham Van Phu in Nha Trang; N Vietnamese troops have been bldg extensive road system in highlands since signing of Paris peace agreements in Jan '73; decision is expected to be stunning blow to natl morale though there have been no visible signs of dissent; 3 provs represent about 16% of S Vietnam's land surface and population of 500,000; natl population is 19.5-million; measure of success of regrouping operation reptdly will be number of troops and civilians who manage to escape to coast from highlands; Nguyen Tu, last correspondent known to be in Pleiku, described scene as 'nightmarish'; Saigon command spokesman Lt Col Le Trung Hien says situation will be 'very critical if enemy can cut vital routes permanently'; asserts that troop movements in highlands are being made for tactical reasons and are not withdrawal; illus of S Vietnamese troops helping villagers fell from attack 50 miles northwest of Saigon; map (L)

Thai Premier Kukrit Pramoj says his coalition Govt will seek complete withdrawal of 25,000 Amer troops and 350 aircraft from country within 1 yr, policy statement; statement is issued after 7-party civilian coalition Govt was confirmed by King Phumiphol Aduldet; new Cabinet faces confidence vote in lower house of Parliament on Mar 19; Kukrit says withdrawal must be completed within 1 yr only if 'pol and mil situation in region permits'; says good relations with US must continue; US Defense Dept has already indicated plans to cut US troop strength by about 50% during coming yr (M)

Sanford Garelik, former NYC Council Pres and Police Dept chief inspector, apptd Transit Auth Police Dept head; replaces Robert H Rapp, removed from office after he admitted lying about payoffs to Transit Auth police and about condoning falsification of subway-crime statistics; says main concern is to provide security for people of city and safety on subways; acknowledges dept morale problems and plans changes; MTA chmn David L Yunich announces apptmt, news conf; PBA transit div pres John T May lauds apptmt; Garelik will receive annual salary of $44,000 in addition to $26,000-a-yr Police Dept pension; leads contingent of transit ptl up 5th Av in St Patrick's Day parade; illus; brief career sketch (M)

Pres Ford, speaking at news conf at Notre Dame Univ in South Bend, Ind, says mil situation in Cambodia might be linked to rept that Philippines Pres Marcos is reviewing his nation's relationship with US (S)

Sup Ct on Mar 18 rules unanimously that Fed Govt has exclusive rights to any oil and gas resources found on Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf beyond 3-mile limit; 13 Atlantic states contended that original royal charters had given them title to seabed resources out to 100 miles; Justice Byron R White, writing opinion in 8-0 decision, in which Justice William O Douglas did not participate, reaffirms earlier rulings as recommended by special master Albert M Maris in Aug '74; says further that its decision is in accordance with Submerged Lands Act and Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, both enacted in '53; ct also rules that Fed Govt has domain over Gulf of Mexico beyond 3 miles limit; Louisiana and Texas, in separate suits, argued that their sovereignty extended into gulf for 27 and 9 miles, respectively; decision against 13 Atlantic Coast states clears way for Interior Dept to proceed with its announced intention of exploiting undiscovered oil and gas deposits in so-called frontier areas off Atlantic Coast, Southern Calif and Alaska; opens way for dept to invite oil cos to nominate tracts to be offered for leasing in Baltimore Canyon, first of 3 Atlantic Coast areas to be leased; Sec Morton, who earlier had to retract invitations because suit had not yet been decided, welcomes ruling and assures Atlantic state Govs that he will consult with them on pace of development; Geological Survey estimated in '72 that Atlantic Shelf contained 114-billion bbls of potentially recoverable oil, but later scaled this down to 8-billion to 16-billion bbls after Natl Petroleum Council estimated 14-billion bbls; previous high ct rulings and Cong action on question of state rights over Continental Shelf revd; map (L)