April 20, 1975

Leonard Koppett on problems for future faced by NY Knicks and NY Nets after their quick elimination from playoffs; illus (M)

There has probably never been such a concerted effort as there is now to cope with the whole fire problem. The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 has won Congressional passage and given birth to the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration the first agency with the potential to coordinate, unify and encourage the country's diverse fireprevention activities.

Communist forces overrun Phan Thiet, 90 mi northeast of Saigon, last Govt-held coastal enclave, and N Vietnamese arty attacks on Bien Hoa Air Base, 15 mi north of Saigon force S Vietnamese Air Force to move many fighter planes to Tan Son Nhut Air Base; renewed attacks along Route 4 in Long An Prov result in heavy S Vietnamese casualties; Communist forces continue to build up in Long An and Dinh Tuong Provs; fighting intensifies at Tan Tru; casualties noted; minor skirmishes reptd in Xuan Loc, where Govt garrison has been surrounded for more than 1 wk; unconfirmed repts say 5 Gens and 5 prov chiefs have been placed under house arrest pending investigation for their role in rout from northern 2/3 of S Vietnam; officers are Maj Gen Pham Van Phu, Lt Gen Pham Quoc Thuan, Brig Gen Nguyen Duc Khanh, Maj Gen Lam Quang Tho and Maj Gen Lam Quang Thi; refugees arriving in Saigon from Phu Quoc Island, which Govt has been using for last 2 wks as resettlement area for 40,000 to 50,000 refugees from central coast, rept local Communist troops have been shelling island's main town; illus; map (L)

SAIGON—A South Vietnamese Army captain in a neatly pressed green uniform and polished boots stood by the side of Route 1 north of Saigon as thousands of refugees and fleeing soldiers pushed past him in panic. The captain had a motorbike loaded with rice and water in a large plastic bottle. He had come up from his office in Saigon, he said, to look for his parents, who had been trapped in the battle for Xuan Loc. He had brought the food and water in case he found them.

Vietcong official Col Vo Dong Giang hints that Communist side in S Vietnamese war may delay expected mil onslaught against Saigon to allow time for possible peaceful conclusion of war, regular Saturday news conf, Saigon; other Vietcong reprs say moves in US Cong on White House requests for more mil aid to Saigon are being followed; statements indicate that favorable action in Cong can trigger offensive in Saigon; indications that Pres Thieu may step down continue to be dim; Rev Hoang Quynh, RC activist, reptdly proposes to Thieu that he resign in favor of rightist civilian, Apr 18 meeting of Thieu and S Vietnamese Natl Advisory Council; Giang names Amb Martin as 1 of Amers to whom Communist object most; reiterates con-tention that presence of Amer advisers in S Vietnam is major violation of Paris accords; Amb Martin has repeatedly indicated that he will not leave post; Giang, answering questions on whether foreign correspondents should stay in country after final Amer evacuation, recalls Vietcong guarantee for safety of all 'honest' foreigners in Vietnam; danger to Vietcong and N Vietnamese delegations in Saigon noted; illus of Sen Nguyen Van Huen calling for Thieu's resignation (M)