INACTION IN KOREA

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26266, 10 November 1950, Page 7

INACTION IN KOREA

Chinese May Be Waiting

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SEOUL, November 9. Commenting on the comparative inaction of the Chinese Communist forces in North Korea, a United States Bth Army spokesman said in Seoul that the Chinese troops might be avoiding battle pending highlevel diplomatic moves which would affect the course of the Korean war. “It is a very puzzling situation,” said the spokesman. “The war is in a strange phase, in which diplomatic moves are perhaps as important as military moves.”

The Peiping radio to-dgy used more moderate language than previously in commenting on the war. It said it had been reasonable for the Chinese to believe that the United States intended to invade Manchuria. The Americans had first said they were not going to cross the 38th Parallel: then they said they were not going to cross a certain line across the Korean peninsula; then they were going all the way to the Manchurian border.

The broadcast added: “The propaganda machine turned on' to get everyone to accept that it was perfectly satisfactory to have the Americans, bristling with arms and warlike talk, threatening the Chinese people from the north while they continued to arm Marshal Chiang Kai-shek in the east and shifted their forces to develop a new Korean situation in Vietnam (Indo-China).” Communists Pull Back

The North Korean and Chinese Communist troops throughout North Korea continued their unexplained withdrawal to-day, for the fourth day running, under heavy attacks from the United Nations air forces.

Patrols of the American, British Commonwealth, and South Korean forces penetrated some miles into Communist territory on the north-west front without making contact with the enemy.

The Communists withdrew also in the north-east before the United States Murines’ drive towards the Changjin reservoir.

The only determined resistance came from a Communist force which is apparently trying to prevent a junction of the American 2nd Division troops striking east from the Sunchon area with the United States 10th Corps on the east coast.

A patrol of the American 24th Division struck four and a half miles into enemy territory on the west sector of the Chongchon river bridgehead without making contact with the Communists.

British Commonwealth Brigade patrols went forward 3000 yards in ths same general area without meeting resistance.

A spokesman for the United States 9th Corps in the Chongchon river area said the Communists, particularly the Chinese, were shifting their main strength to the east. He said American air observers were keeping a close watch on tips movement. ~ Guerrilla Fighting Guerilla fighting flared up 10-day at places along the main supply routes from Fusan to Seoul. The South Korean 3rd Corps reported engagements near Taegu, Waegwan, ana Taejon, through which the British 29th Brigade Group is now moving from Fusan to its concentration area about 12 miles south of Seoul. '

The South Koreans claim that their troops near Waegwan killed 71 North Korean guerrillas and captured three; near Taegu they killed four and captured one; and near Taejon they captured 21.

Other guerrilla fighting was reported in North Korea, well in the rear of the United Nations foremost troops.