NORTH KOREA BATTLES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26263, 7 November 1950, Page 7

NORTH KOREA BATTLES

Chinese Continue Offensive

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 12.45 a.m.) SEOUL, November 6. The Chinese Communist forces renewed their heavy assault in the Sinanju area of North Korea early to-day.

They attacked American 24th Division infantrymen defending the Chongchon river line, and the bat tie. quickly developed into a fierce hand-to-hand struggle.

The latest Communist action is believed to aim at a break-through towards the United Nations beachhead at Anju commanding one of the main roads south to Pyongyang, but the headquarters spokesman emphasised that the aetiqn was still in progress and the United Nations line nad not been broken. ' Further north-east in the WonniKunuri sector, United Nations forces are holding a firm line. It is believed that pressure on this sector has somewhat eased, partly because the Communists are paying greater attention to the Anju sector. A headquarters spokesman to-day indicated that the Communist forces had south of the Chongchon Fiver. -

American aeroplanes unleashed a heavy air attack against the Communists in an effort to assist the American infantrymen. The division's officers reported after eight hours of fighting that, they thought they could withstand the attack.

The Communists attacked on the Americans' left and fight flanks, and on the left drove forward nearly a mile, but the Americans stopped this push and beat back the one on the right flank. The area of the attack is about 15 miles north-east of Sinanju. The American 24th Division is holding part of the 30-mile defence line and two other American divisions—the Ist Cavalry and the 2nd Infantry—the British Commonwealth Brigade, and three South Korean divisions are concentrated in other sections of the line. ’ British Undef Attack The Communist forces launched an attack against the British positions last night and a battaMon and sunporting American field artillery units wimdrew after inflicting heavy casualties on the Communists. The battalion’s own losses were one casualty and one gun which was destroyed by themselves.

United Nations Air Force pilots report continued Communist efforts to build up strength north of Unsan.