Harrison Salisbury reports on damage caused by U.S. bombing
Harrison Salisbury assistant managing editor of the New York Times files a report from Hanoi chronicling the damage to civilian areas in North Vietnam by the U.S.bombing campaign.Salisbury stated that Nam Dinh a city about 50 miles southeast of Hanoi was bombed repeatedly by U.S.
planes starting on June 28 1965.Salisburys press report caused a stir in Washington where it was reported Pentagon officials expressed irritation and contended that he was exaggerating the damage to civilian areas.On December 26 the U.S.
Defense Department conceded that American pilots bombed North Vietnamese civilians accidentally during missions against military targets.The spokesman restated administration policy that air raids were confined to military targets but added It is sometimes impossible to avoid all damage to civilian areas.
