SOME ATTACKS BEATEN OFF

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26179, 1 August 1950, Page 7

SOME ATTACKS BEATEN OFF

Enemy Offensive In Korea

CN.Z. Pres, Association— Copyright) (Rec 930 p.m.) TOKYO, July 31. On the main western front in Korea, 15 miles .i Ha r I K hang i. key . point > n the centre of the defence lines north of humchon, has apparently fallen to the North KoreX t ,r a rC ! spoke .sman said that American fighters had attacked the town with rocket and cannon fire, setting it on American forces several miles south-east of Kochang (26 miles south-west of Kumchon) made contact with forces believed to include several tanks' bu? noaction™ed‘ In the south a fast-moving enemy column which is trvinir to bring Chinju under direct attack by-passed the American positions on high ground near the town. American artillery was rushed into position to meet this serious threat, and Ab Force and carrier planes gave strong support. The North Koreans to-day retook Chirye, 14 miles south of Kumchon, from the Americans. J m les south

The North Koreans encircled the town of Chirye, which was retaken by the Americans last night in the first United Nations advance in the Korean war. Screaming hordes of Communists then overwhelmed the American advance posts. As the young Americans fell back, the North Koreans seized their abandoned machine-guns and opened fire. THe Americans fell back and reformed their line east of Chirye. It was a bitter reverse tor the young troops. The Northerners infiltrated into the positions taken by the Americans and struck furiously two and a half hours before daylight. The battlefield was a scene of comSlete confusion. The North Koreans ad slipped in and encircled the Ame-

riean force so closely that the men thought their own troops were firing at them.

Cne North Korean company came so close that they fired mortars with the barrels horizontal. The Americans held their ground for half an hour. They could not call artillery support because the North Koreans had cut the telephone wire End the radios that worked were knocked out early in the battle. The enemy quickly seized several machine-gun posts and turned the guns cn the bewildered defenders. A green fiame went up from a hill, and the main enemy forces swarmed in from three directions.

‘ "*t and Mustang fighters made heavy rocket attacks on the enemy convoys streaming along the Hadong-Chinju h eh way. '

“it is the same old story. They hit you frontally and then they go round vour flank until they get to the rear, -ben you have to pujl back or get cut cn,” said a divisional commander as he ordered more American artillery up.

American Air Force spokesman said that reconnaissance showed heavy new concentrations of Communist troopsr—perhaps 10,000—moving south from the rear areas to strengthen the nine North Korean divisions which are pressing along the entire battleiront.

An officer at General MacArthur’s headquarters said the North Koreans would have to obtain a battle decision ’'““in two days as a result of inAmerican strength and the reauction of enemy striking power.