The World: How Good Is Saigon's Army?

For better or worse, the Army of the Republic of Viet Nam (ARVN for short) holds the key to the success of President Nixon's Vietnamization policy. Expert opinions are strongly divided on whether ARVN can sustain that policy. Reflecting the cynical view of more than a few American G.I.s who have returned from combat in Southeast Asia, one U.S. military adviser last week complained: "The colors in the South Vietnamese flag are certainly appropriate—most of the people are yellow, and the rest are red."

By and large, though, American advisers believe that ARVN is...