March 20, 1975

Joint C/S chmn Gen George S Brown says S Vietnamese's 'backs are against wall' partly because of lack of US mil aid, remark made in Defense Dept-supplied copy of speech Brown is to make at Navy League meeting, San Diego; Brown says S Vietnamese Govt is being 'forced into increasingly defensive position in face of current series of attacks by N Vietnamese'; speech reflects new effort to link withdrawal of S Vietnamese forces from central highlands to Cong aid cutbacks; Brown says aid has been limited to ammunition and fuel and notes US has not replaced losses in aircraft, tanks or armored personnel carriers and has not supplied spare parts and maintenance; contends that 'to cut off aid now would be view by much of world as fundamental lack of resolve' on US's part or 'suggestion that aggression pays'; White House presss sec Ron Nessen says Pres Ford is watching developments 'closely and with considerable concern'; says Pres Ford believes additional aid is urgently needed; State Dept spokesman Robert Funseth asserts 1 of considerations in Saigon's decision to withdraw from highlands was 'reduction of air and ground mobility as result of inadequate level of US mil aid'; $300-million in emergency aid requested by Ford and thus far denied by Cong reptdly was intended to build up reserves so that S Vietnamese Govt would be in position to meet an offensive in '76; Defense Dept officials contend N Vietnamese Govt will not conduct all-out offensive in '75; importance of psychological state of S Vietnamese forces after highlands withdrawal assessed; Defense Dept reptdly views S Vietnam's strategy in withdrawing from highlands as sound; Brown por (M)

US Sup Ct decision ruling unconst Soc Security Law authorizing survivors benefits for widow of deceased women with children, but denying them to widower in same position, seen victory for supporters of equal rights for women (L)

US Commerce Dept repts that US direct investment abroad showed dollar outflow in '74 of $6.8-billion, up $1.93-billion from '73; says in 4th qr alone, over-all net long-term capital outflow was $4.66-billion (S)

Communist-led insurgents reptdly have broken through Cambodian Govt lines to east bank of Mekong River, across from Chrui Changwar naval base, 2 miles east of Phnom Penh; artillery, air strikes and ground attacks by Govt forces reptdly have failed to dislodge insurgents, who apparently are seeking to improve their position for mortar attacks on base; Govt forces have begun pushing out from Tuol Leap; insurgent forces that had captured town apparently have retreated north to defend rocket positions from which they have been firing missiles at Pochentong Airport, Phnom Penh; airport is capital's only supply link to outside world; Western mil observers say Govt forces still have not been able to advance closer than 1/2 mile from nearest of rocket positions; heavy fighting apparently has taken much of pressure off airport, where supplies are being delivered by Amer airlift; 1 transport plane was reptd damaged by rocket attack; no injuries reptd; Amer Embassy denies it had ordered evacuation of Amer relief agency personnel from country; embassy says it merely 'suggested' to Catholic Relief Services that if any personnel were scheduled for home leave or were becoming nervous about general situation, they should leave; embassy sources imply that agency overreacted by ordering half of its foreign staff out of country; embassy apparently is trying to avoid giving impression that Phnom Penh is about to fall; embassy and US State Dept concede that embassy files are being burned and nonessential household items are being shippped out; other fighting described; illus; map (L)

FAA informs US aviation indus that it will put forward program for major modification of all jumbo jetliners to reduce exposure to type of hazard that resulted in crash of Turkish Airlines DC-10 near Paris in Mar '74 and subsequent deaths of all 346 persons aboard; will require installation of extensive relief-vent system to protect planes from catastrophic explosive decompression caused when large hole is punched in pressurized fuselage; venting system would permit craft to survive hole of 20 sq ft; proposal will require completion of modifications by July 1 '77 on all DC-10s, as well as Boeing 747 and L-1011 Tristars; considerable opposition to plan is expected from both mfrs and airlines; McDonnell Douglas has contended that since current defective cargo doors have been modified, any remaining problems are matters for entire aviation indus; holds other jumbo jetliners are as vulnerable as DC-10 to explosive decompression; says it will install elaborate pressure-venting system and stronger cabin floors on all DC-10s starting late in '75; protest also is expected from Boeing Co and Lockheed Aircraft Corp, both of whom might feel excessively penalized for situation caused by McDonnell; causes of Turkish Airlines DC-10 tragedy revd (L)