Showing the Thais

The roar of modern war's destroying engines shook the gilded spires and jeweled pagodas of many-templed Bangkok last week. In answer to the Thai government's invitation, SEATO nations were staging their first joint maneuvers to show how fast they could come to the aid of their ally. A task force of U.S., British, Australian and New Zealand warships knifed northward through the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Siam. Crisp and impressive, 650 Philippine infantrymen rolled ashore from a U.S. seaplane tender in the harbor. U.S. Globemasters and Flying Boxcars, lugging men and arms from Japan, came up like thunder across the South China Sea.

Under cover of U.S., British and royal Thai jets, 6,000 U.S. soldiers rained down on Bangkok's Don Muang airport by parachute before the awed eyes of 250.000 Thailanders. Most impressive unprogrammed sight: the rescue in mid-air by one paratrooper of a comrade who jumped in the same stick but whose chute failed to open. Popeyed, rice farmers saw field guns and trucks larger than their houses drop from the sky. U.S. marines, landing from 30 helicopters, fought a mock battle against "enemy" strongpoints with flamethrowers and satchel charges.

By European NATO standards it was a small show, but by the third day, when some 28,000 men of six nations (France and Pakistan sent only observers) marched in colorful parade through Bangkok's streets, Thai officials felt that "Operation Firm Link" had shown their people that SEATO is much more than a "paper tiger."

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