SEOUL’S FALL REPORTED

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26151, 29 June 1950, Page 5

SEOUL’S FALL REPORTED

Government Goes South

U.S. PLANES FIGHT INVADERS (P.ec. 1.30 a.m.) TOKYO. June 28. Roads from Seoul, the South Korean capital are clogged with refugees fleeing from the advancing North Korean forces. The South Korean Government was last reported at Taegu, which will probably be the new seat of government. Taegu is about 65 miles south of Suwon (the United States military base), and 150 miles south-east of Seoul.

Fierce fighting is reported at the southern edge of the Kempo airstrip, 20 miles north of Suwon.

A United Press correspondent reports that North Korean forces drove to within 10 miles of the United States Military Headquarters in Suwon, and that an order for an American withdrawal is expected any moment. American jet and other fighters strafed the advancing Communists all cay. trying to help the South Koreans.

Six American fighters were shot down by the North Koreans during the day. according to a group of American and Korean soldiers stationed at Suwon strip to direct aeroplanes in landing. They learned of the losses from the fighter pilots, but gave no account of American successes. An American officer said the Suwon airfield was the last remaining air bridgehead in the country. If it were lost. American aeroplanes would have to attack from Japan. U.S. Bombers Attack General MacArthur threw Marauder medium bombers and bombercarrying Shooting Star jet fighters into the battle for Seoul. The jets whistled into the air from an undisclosed base, believed to be Itazuke, in Kyushu (southernmost Japanese mainland island).

Several targets were attacked with 5001 b bombs, rockets, and machineguns. The misisons were confined to territory south of the 38th parallel. The North Korea radio, monitored tn Tokyo, reported that the Seoul population remained calm, and did not evacuate when North Korean troops occupied the city.

The Seoul radio reported that the North Korean Minister of Justice (Mr Thee Senyoch) had been appointed acting-chairman of the Seoul People’s Committee to administer the city.