NORTHERN RADIO ADMITS LOSSES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26199, 24 August 1950, Page 7

NORTHERN RADIO ADMITS LOSSES

DAMAGE BY U.S. AIR ATTACKS TOKYO, August 22. The North Korean Pyongyang radio to-day began the second instalment of a detailed report oh losses from the United States air attacks, including a list of 11 key factories "completely destroyed.” American officers and observers are

puzzled by the frankness of the report about the factories, which in--1 elude some of the biagest industrial toncerns in Asia—built by the Japanese. Various rehsons are suggested: that the Communists are anxious to enlist the sympathy of other Asiatics against American “imperialism”; that they fire preparing the people for defeats ahead; and that they want to atop the bombers coming back. The Pyongyang report claimed that 16.503 houses had been destroyed and 11.532 civilians killed or wounded in raids between July 2 and AUgust 3. The broadcasts are now beginiiing to claim mdre and more Superfortress bombers shot down in raids over the t 38th parallel. This is also regarded as an indication of the heavy beating the Communists are getting from Allied aircraft. • Northern flak is getting heavier and more accurate, especially round the capital. Pyongyang, and several Superfortresses have returned from raids lately with shrapnel damage. Latest released figures give, the United Nations’ losses at 55 aeroplanes hy August 19—of which very few were shot down in air duels —and the Communists at 74. An Air Force spokesman pointed out that the United Nations figures would inevitably get higher because the great air effort increased every day, whereas the Communists would remain about the saine Because they were not putting aircraft up.