751G.00/5–354: Telegram
The Chargé at Saigon (McClintock) to the Department of State
priority
2185. Repeated information Paris 745, Geneva 36, Tokyo 88, Manila 226, Singapore 72, Hanoi 402. There was a lull in fighting at Dien Bien Phu yesterday. However, weather was exceedingly bad and no offensive sorties were flown although French Air Force did manage to drop 120 tons of which 60% went either to the enemy or was destroyed on friendly wire.
French admit losses of two battalions in fierce hand-to-hand fighting night of Saturday–Sunday. They say that enemy in taking the three strong points cited Embtel 21761 mounted an offensive in strength of from 10 to 12 battalions. Although garrison at Dien Bien Phu still carries 11 battalions on books, these are down to strength of between 200 and 300 men each with only 6 or 7 officers per battalion. French last night managed to drop one company of a colonial parachute battalion and hope to bring other two companies in tonight. It is possible that Navarre will have one additional parachute battalion in reserve to use at Dien Bien Phu but no other reinforcements are in sight.