NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
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15. I called at General Cogny's Headquarters and had a profitable talk with him. He is a fine officer and is sound in his thinking. He is greatly concerned over having to send so much of his mobile reserve from the Delta area. He stated that the enemy has increased infiltration in the southern part of the Delta and that the 320th Viet Minh Division, as well as other units are involved. At the present time, Cogny reports twenty regular Viet Minh battalions in the Delta area, plus several individual companies. I feel that this infiltration will no doubt continue until Navarre has more troops to continue the clearing of the Delta or adopts a plan to wire in the Delta with tactical wire, covering it with fire, and then conducts a deliberate campaign to eliminate all enemy. I expressed these ideas to Cogny. He was non-committal but was interested when I attempted to show him by a sketch how I thought fencing in could be done.
16. I also talked with Cogny's Deputy. He expressed the idea that the political war had to be won before the military. I told him that I did not agree at all with such a concept and that the military had to be won first. I am sure that Cogny is of the same opinion that I am. Cogny's anxious to stay in Indochina until the war is won, although he has been there now for more than thirty months. Navarre has high regard for Cogny and no doubt Cagny will stay. I certainly hope so.
17. The impression I have gained as a result of my visit to Indochina is that the French are anxious to get on with and win the war; that the military definitely want to stay until the war is brought to a successful conclusion. The French are sadly lacking in know-how in many fields,
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