DATE=6/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233549
TITLE=PENTAGON / NERVE GAS (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN IS ORDERING AN 
INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT U-S FORCES USED NERVE GAS IN 
THE VIETNAM WAR.  IN ONE ALLEGED CASE, THE GAS ATTACK KILLED SOME
AMERICAN DEFECTORS.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.

TEXT: THE ALLEGATIONS GROW OUT OF NEWS REPORTS BY "TIME" MAGAZINE
AND C-N-N (CABLE NEWS NETWORK).  THEY SAY NERVE GAS WAS USED UP 
TO 20 TIMES DURING THE WAR, SOMETIMES TO BLOCK ENEMY TROOPS 
DURING RESCUES OF DOWNED AMERICAN PILOTS.

THE STORIES ALSO SAY U-S FORCES USED DEADLY SARIN GAS ON A 
VILLAGE IN LAOS WHERE AMERICAN DEFECTORS WERE HIDING WITH THE 
ENEMY.  DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS PENTAGON OFFICIALS 
ARE WORKING TO FIND OUT IF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE.

                       ///  COHEN ACT  ///

         I HAVE FOUND NO EVIDENCE, AT LEAST THAT HAS BEEN 
         PRESENTED TO ME, THAT WOULD VALIDATE THAT REPORT.  BUT 
         IT IS A SERIOUS ALLEGATION, AND SOMETHING THAT I HAVE 
         ASKED THE (ARMED) SERVICE SECRETARIES, AND THOSE ACTING 
         IN THEIR PLACE, TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION.

                         /// END ACT ///

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN BILL DARLEY SAYS OFFICIALS HAVE SEARCHED (OLD)
NORTH VIETNAMESE RECORDS AS WELL, BUT FOUND  NO EVIDENCE TO 
SUPPORT THE ALLEGED USE OF NERVE GAS BY U-S FORCES.  HE SAYS 
HANOI WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED THE PROPAGANDA VALUE OF SUCH AN 
INCIDENT AND QUICKLY BROUGHT IT TO WORLD ATTENTION DURING THE 
WAR.  HE SAYS THAT DID  NOT  HAPPEN.  LIEUTENANT COLONEL DARLEY  
SAYS THE WITNESSES MAY HAVE MISTAKEN GASES DESIGNED TO 
INCAPACITATE ENEMIES FOR DEADLY NERVE AGENTS. (SIGNED).

NEB/JR/WDC/RRM 

08-Jun-98 4:52 PM EDT (2052 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.