Why They-and We-Fight Sir: Of all the reasons given for the successes of the Viet Cong in South Viet Nam [Aug. 25], none was so important as the statement of the U.S. official that "Viet Nam's traditional society doesn't offer much in the way of opportunity.

The V.C. promote pretty much on merit; that's what attracts and excites the youth." The promise of "promotion for merit" is precisely the lure that brought millions of immigrants to America and drove them and their progeny to settle this giant continent in record time.

M. EUGENE MOVER Assistant Professor of Economics University of Illinois Urbana Sir: The South Vietnamese are faced with two alternatives, a rightwing oligarchy operating under a facade of democracy, or a rigid but efficient socialist dictatorship which at least perpetrates some social and economic reforms. A very substantial number of impoverished, downtrodden South Vietnamese peasants would seem to prefer the latter, judging by the efficacy of the Viet Cong in battle and in proselytism of the populace.

DAVID ATLAS Syracuse Sir: Like many people on this side of the Atlantic, I have for long suffered misgivings about the U.S. role in Viet Nam.

After reading your cover story, "Inside the Viet Cong," I realize why: failure to understand the true nature of Hanoi's aims, tactics and atrocities. I don't change my opinions easily, but you have convinced me--and, it is to be hoped, many other skeptics--of the vital importance of America's continuing to sweat it out in the war.

NIGEL FIDDES London Sir: Incredible! All the millions of words on Viet Nam--and never the right ones!

Beyond all doubt the heart of the matter is the calculated murder of 100 civilians weekly for the past 500 weeks. How incredibly naive to term the terror of the Mao-Moscow mercenary, Ho, a civil war because he has hired his murderers from among the Vietnamese.

J. H. ANDREWS Blue Bell, Pa.

Sir: A few months ago, while still studying in the U.S., I agreed with many Americans that America should stop the war and withdraw her troops from Viet Nam. Now, after coming back to Hong Kong and seeing at firsthand the Communist threat, which once nearly ruined this peaceful and free British colony, I changed my viewpoint completely. Most Americans never realize what other countries are going through under the influence of Communism. The war may take time, but after it is over, millions of Southeast Asians will appreciate the Americans for what they have done --while many Americans will be sitting at home, wondering what really has happened.

JOHN CHU Hong Kong Tax on the Tax

Sir: Mr. Johnson's request for the 10% surtax [Aug. 25] is the logical and in evitable result of our Government's program of misplaced benevolence--a program that is and has been making the American look quite foolish. We pour billions into underdeveloped countries to alleviate conditions that might spawn revolution, yet can do nothing more effective than appoint a "committee" to analyze our own very real revolution. We spend billions to reach the moon, then turn down $40 million to reach the rats. We commit half a million troops and some $30 billion a year toward preventing a Communist regime 12,000 miles from Miami, while we permit one to exist 90 miles from its beaches. We wring our hands in paternal dismay at the hopelessness of the South Vietnamese army while a major portion of our own defense, the National Guard, remains undertrained and, if recent performance is a barometer, pathetically inept. We sit in smug amusement when De Gaulle interferes in Canadian affairs, while we send planes to the Congo and admit we are bombing Laotian territory (as advisers of course). We ship thousands of tons to feed India's poor, but require our malnutritioned natives to wade through a mountain of red tape and, indeed, a certain amount of humiliation to qualify for a bag of flour.

It is time for us to realize that there exist many nations, in many different stages of development, consisting of billions of individuals, and encompassing a variety of creeds, mores, and governments, not all of which at this time conform to what we believe is the great society. Let's at least get our own myriad problems under control before we attempt our self-imposed crusade to rehabilitate this very large world. Who knows, if we leave it alone long enough we might find that it can actually exist without our "guidance."

HAROLD V. TOOP JR.

Lieutenant, USARV APO, San Francisco Sir: I think the tax is needed--no ifs, ands, or buts. And I think that people like Congressman Mills are showing poor form when they use only the basis of their constituents' mail to make their stand on. The people of the U.S. are not all-wise, all-powerful and all-knowing.

Measures for our good have had to be rammed down our throats before and will have to be done again. I think it's time we sacrificed political expediency for political integrity--something this country hasn't seen much of for a long time.

DONALD W. MOORE William and Mary '69 Williamsburg, Va.

Sir: So L.B.J. says he has not lost his ass. If he means the one who voted for him in 1964, he had better look again.

PAT McGANN

Alexandria, Va.

Bearing the Cross

Sir: The proposed eradication of the grizzly bear in Montana [Aug. 25] in retaliation for the deaths of two humans in Glacier National Park makes about as much sense as exterminating the Canada goose because it is sucked into jet intakes and causes airplane crashes. The purpose of the National Park system is as much to protect wildlife from humans as it is to give pleasure to tourists who assume the risk of camping near garbage dumps.

HARRY B. WYETH Columbia, S.C.

Sir: It's unfortunate when the innocent suffer, but I have seen the idiots in short pants slog through the marshes in Glacier Park to photograph a moose's eyeballs (the moose is about as nasty and unpredictable as the grizzly). I have seen them literally load bears into their cars in Yellowstone. It's stupid disrespect for nature and it's gettting worse. I can't blame the bears for mistaking people for garbage; it's sometimes hard for me to tell the difference.

It's probably too late for the grizzly bear, the elk and other species, with the possible exception of the Norway rat, who was clever enough to adapt. If so, it's too late for mankind. Encroachment by civilization is perverting the wilderness just as man is being perverted in response to the environment he's made for himself. Let's all take our about-to-be confiscated hunting rifles and kill the grizzlies in Glacier, but do it to save them the misery of choking on the wave of pollution that's bound to get us all anyway. Then when we've decimated our natural environment we'll have no more of these uncalled-for acts of horror, with the possible exception of an occasional mass murderer or sex criminal which we can handle. Besides we've got marijuana and LSD now so we can make our own beauty. Who needs all these crummy parks with their crummy wildlife?

D. P. FERLICKA, D.V.M. Hamilton, Mont.

BB Shots

Sir: In its quest for truth, TIME [Aug.

25] is again lost. Far from "insinuating" that outstanding Americans like Thomas J. Dodd, Edward Kennedy and Robert S.

McNamara "are touting the Communist line" against guns--a ridiculous notion-we clearly indicated that the Communists jumped on the anti-gun bandwagon. Contrary to your implication that The American Rifleman accepts ads for "submachine guns, silencers, antitank guns, cannon and Nazi insignia," it steadfastly rejects all such advertising. Submachine guns and silencers, by the way, are illegal under U.S. gun laws that the NRA helped to pass.

ASHLEY HALSEY JR. Editor

The American Rifleman Washington, D.C.

Sir: As a woman of acceptable and average feminine demeanor, I must take issue with those who feel that a woman has no business with a loaded gun. I have lived with guns all my life and, although I do not care to hunt or kill, good marksmanship has its own rewards. A woman untrained in the use of guns, and afraid of them as well, is possibly more lethal to those she tries to protect than any adversary she might face.

MARTHA KRUPP Nogales, Ariz.

Sir: "Easy as pie," proclaims the Gun World ad promoting hand loading of ammunition, and featuring the comely matron holding a plateful of cartridges while her three daughters look on. Here's a caption I like even better: "The family that loads together explodes together."

MARK K. PINKERMAN Sarasota, Fla.

Peace on the Range

Sir: As the new--and proud--owner of Chet Huntley's beef farm [Aug. 18] out "in the badlands of central New Jersey" (sometimes referred to by other purveyors of news as that beautifully tranquil countryside out near Bucks County, Pa.), I feel constrained to advise your readership that Marshal Dillon has all the vigilantes locked in the hoosegow, and they won't be let out unless the Beverly Hillbillies ride in to shoot up the town.

WM. BRYCE THOMPSON IV Princeton, N.J.

But They Got It in Dubuque

Sir: Chicago's "What is it?" by Picasso [Aug. 25] is a lion. You can see it in his face, mane and coloring. What else could it possibly be?

ELLEN ESSEN Madison, Wis.

Sir: A sphinx for our age.

MRS. PETER NIXON Hingham, Mass.

Sir: The world's largest chastity belt. That Picasso!

PATRICIA SENTERFITT San Diego

Sir: An aborted calf out of Mrs. O'Leary's cow, by the bull of Guernica.

ALMA COLEN Van Nuys, Calif.

Sir:

Plaza Picasso Wings for passage, ground for anchor. Art is. Only love frees the sprung ribs.

RAYMOND ROSELIEP Dubuque, Iowa

What Before Why

Sir: In reading "Denali Strikes Back" [Aug. 11], I was amazed that Bradford Washburn blamed "serious tactical blunders" for the mountaineering disaster. This statement seems to indicate that the expedition made some mistakes that most mountaineers would routinely avoid and that these errors were largely responsible for the tragedy. In talking with Mr. Washburn, I find that he had only sketchy information and did not at first understand why the expedition split into two groups. He certainly did not mean to imply that the tactics were responsible for the tragedy.

It is difficult to determine why the disaster happened without knowing first what happened. At the present time no one knows what happened--it may well be that no one will ever know. The summit team was very strong and equipped much better than most groups. They had the combined experience of climbing on every continent of the world and their leader was a cool-headed veteran of two Antarctica expeditions. I find their loss only a little short of unbelievable. It is interesting to note that all fatal accidents on Mount McKinley have involved very experienced climbers. Mountaineers should be aware that infrequent situations do occur that probably no one can cope with. To suggest that this recent disaster could have been foreseen would not only discredit the victims but also be unfair to future expeditions.

JOSEPH F. WILCOX Leader Wilcox-McKinley Expedition Provo, Utah

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