Extracted text

OCR Page 1 of 70
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN NEWS SUMMARY October 10, 1973 (Tues. nets, wires) The major stories of the day: Mideast conflict again totally dominated nets w/fighting "worse on ground, air and sea¹¹ led Cronkite. Israeli planes attacked deep inside Egypt, Syria and Lebanon while ground campaigns continued along Suez and on Golan Heights. Israel knocked out largest Mideast radar station in Lebanon because it was reportedly monitoring Israeli air space. In a separate strike air bases near Cairo were hit and El-Zayyat claimed Cairo environs them- selves were hit. But day's biggest war story was Damascus raid that apparently struck foreign embassy quarter causing over 100 casualties, including some in USSR legation. At UN Malik called raid "barbaric gangster act" that he likened to Hitlerian tactics. When Tekoah offered condolences Malik led USSR walkout. Israeli planes also hit oil/power plants at Homs deep inside Syria. Reports emphasized that Israeli air power controlled the skies. But on the ground the story was somewhat different w/Israel troops forced to abandon Bar-Lev line of emplacements along east bank of Suez and reposition themselves 2-3 miles further inland. Reports did note that Egyptian claims of routing Israeli troops and chasing them back into the Sinai were exaggerated. Similarly fighting was thick on Golan Heights w/Israeli commanders warning that this would't be a short '67-like war, even tho 1 was quoted as asserting that Israel itself is in no danger. RN in greeting of Houphouet-Boigny (on ABC/NBC film) reiterated that meeting would include discussion of how US and all nations might contribute not just to settlement of this war but establishment of a permanent structure of peace in all Africa. Brokaw noted that RN again met several times w/HAK but there was no indication of what progress had been made on US initiative. He noted some indication may be forthcoming at Wed. AM meeting w/Hill leadership. (Also noted by CBS.) Kaplow on ABC reported that US officials don't think fighting has yet taken decisive turn and that UN may be waiting for 1 side to gain the upper hand before taking any step toward c-f. As for USSR role, US judgment is "mixed and tentative" it can't be said USSR wants to enter war or see it expanded but on other hand USSR's apparently not urging any restraint on Arab allies. And its obvious, noted ABC, that USSR is 1 country RN hopes will contribute to finding peace.