WAR IN KOREA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 37, 23 November 1950, Page 5

WAR IN KOREA

ALLIED ADVANCE CONTINUES BIG PORT MAY FALL «N.Z P A.—Copyright) (Rec. 11.40 a.m.) SEOUL, This Day. South Korean troops, advancing through north-east, Korea yesterday, behind air and naval bombardment, closed in on the big port of Chongjin, 55 miles south of the Russian border. - At last reports the South Korean Capitol Division was within 15 miles of the port Enemy troops below Chongjin have retreated, and apparently have written off Korea’s northern-most major port, which the South Koreans expect to reach to-day.

Meanwhile, impressive ground forces of both sides are massing on the arc forming the north-west Korean defence lines —preparing for what is expected to be a decisive battle. About 120,000 Communist troops—Chinese and North Korean—are believed to be deployed in- lines stretching, generally, between Taschon, Unsan and the area north of Tokchon, blocking the way to the Yalu river. Some 30,000 Chinese and up to 10,000 North Koreans are reported in the immediate frontline. Allied commanders face the prospect that another drive toward the Manchurian frontier will force the Chinese to move across the river, into Korea, the bulk of their Manchurian army of 500,000 men, to defend power plants supplying Chinese industry. Chinese Ordered to Pull Back A message from Taipeh says that Chinese Nationalists to-day quoted mainland reports saying that the Peking Government ordered the Communist General Lin Piao to pull back hie troops across the Manchurian-Korean border to prepared positions. Official sources said that was ordered because the relentless bombings and superior firepower of the United Nations forces were causing heavy Chinese casualties. Foreign observers here placed high credibility on the reports. The sources added that Chinese Communist manpower and “human sea” tactics were proving no match for the steam-rolling tactics of the well-equipped and heavily armed United Nations forces. A further report said that the Peking Government had ordered all Communist officials in major cities to prepare for emergency evacuation for fear of bombing raids.