NEW ATTACK BY U.N.

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26524, 12 September 1951, Page 7

NEW ATTACK BY U.N.

Slight Enemy Resistance

(Rec. 12.10 a.m.) TOKYO. Sept. 11. United Nations troops to-day launched an assault north of the imjitt river on the western Korean front. A heavy artillery bombardment cleared the path for the attack, west of Yonchon and nofth of Korangpo, and the Allied troops met only alight Communist resistance. Allied officers said that a counterattack was likely, but they admitted that they were revising earlier estimates that the Communists in the west were getting ready for a major offensive.

Although the Allied advance began in full view of forward Chinese observation posts, the Communists Were apparently unwilling to take the field in daylight and risk pounding by United Nations air and artillery fire. In an area south Of Kumsong on th* east central front. Allied armour struck at fiercely-resisting Communists, inflicting heavy casualties. United Nations artillery provided covering fire as the tanks rolled into the attack. On the east coast the Allies wrested yet another hill position from at least two Communist battalions. The sth Air Force repotted that five M.I.G. Jet fighters were damaged ill dog-fig Hts in north-west Korea yesterday. The Communists are estimated to have used 100 to 200 M.l.G.’s during the day. . Russian-type rockets have been falling behind the Allied lines on the east central front for several days. It is the first time they have been used in Korea.

The Allied authorities in the first report of Russian-type rockets, described them as 132 mm. projectiles, said to be launched from 2J-ton lorries, 16 at a time. Their range was given as about Six miles.