American Adviser Slain in Salvador Rebel Raid

An estimated 800 leftist guerrillas today killed 43 soldiers and a U.S. military adviser--the first to die in Salvadoran combat--in an attack on a major army base, Salvadoran and U.S. officials said.

One report said at least 30 rebels died in the attack on the 4th Brigade Military garrison in El Paraiso, nearly 40 miles north of San Salvador in Chalatenango province.

The Salvadoran Armed Forces Press Office said 43 soldiers were killed and 31 wounded in the attack. The office did not confirm or deny a rebel report that the base commander and assistant commander were among those killed.

Inside Garrison

U.S. Embassy spokesman Pen Agnew said the slain American, a sergeant, was inside the garrison in a training capacity when it was attacked but refused to identify him until his relatives are notified.

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Robert Sims confirmed the death of the U.S. serviceman but likewise withheld identification.

Sims said that the victim had been part of a two-man team of military advisers assigned to the area but that the second man in the team was not at the garrison when it was attacked.

Sims described the raid as “a middle-of-the-night attack without warning.”

“We’re not sure that our individual had any opportunity to defend himself whatsoever,” he added.

Early-Morning Attack

A soldier at the base said by telephone that about 800 guerrillas attacked the base at 1:30 a.m.

The unidentified soldier said 30 guerrillas had been killed and that gunfire could still be heard around the garrison after dawn.

Helicopters were seen landing near the military hospital in San Salvador early today and taking off again for the north. Such flights usually accompany a major attack.

Government soldiers set up roadblocks to prevent newsmen and photographers from reaching Chalatenango, the capital of the province, 30 miles northeast of San Salvador.