News In Brief

US officer challenges CBS on effect of Viet reports

An Army intelligence officer sharply disputed a CBS documentary that said deleting figures on civilian forces from the official enemy troop count resulted in heavy casualties on US soldiers in Vietnam. In yesterday's testimony, Col. John Stewart said the Viet Cong civilian forces were ''little more than a motley crew'' that caused an ''insignificant'' share of US casualties.

Colonel Stewart is a witness for Gen. William C. Westmoreland in his $120 million libel suit against CBS.