From authoritative sources in Paris, Washington and the Far East this week came previously censored details of the battle of Dienbienphu. Among them: ¶The French have privately downgraded their "official" estimate of Communist losses from 25,000 to between 10,000 and 12,000. Best estimate of French losses: 2,500, including 800 killed, 1,200 wounded (800 still in Dienbienphu with inadequate medical care), 500 captured or missing.
¶Morale is still high, but one battalion of Thai tribesmen has been kept in reserve since one of its companies panicked in the battle's opening phase. ¶Dienbienphu's most critical problem during the first two Red...
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