KOREAN WAR

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26560, 24 October 1951, Page 8

KOREAN WAR

WORK OF N.Z. FRIGATES “Although about lOOUland troops and a couple of frigates do not sound much on paper, New Zealand on a population basis has. more men serving in the Korean campaign than the majority, of the United Nations countries,” said Lieutenant-Commander P.J. Hoard, R.N., at a tattoo of the Christchurch Returned Services' Association Tin Hat Club last evening. “It is indeed something to be proud of,” hesaid. Lieutenant-Commander Hoare, now serving in the Royal New Zealand Navy, is on loan from the Royal Navy. He went to Korea in command of H.MN.Z.S. Tutira, one of the first New Zealand frigates to serve under the United Nations in that zone. Last evening he outlined the naval aspects of the Korean war and the relations existing between the naval forces under the United Nations Command. “One of the most important decisions of the century was made by President Truman when he decided to support the South Koreans in their efforts to repulse the invaders from the north,” Lieutenant-Commander Hoare said. “It was a test case for the United Nations. Soon after this decision the Pukaki switched from a peace to a war footing and sailed for Korea.” Lieutenant-Commander Hoare said that when the New Zealand ship arrived at Susebo there were already ships from nine other nations in port The joint naval committee then decided to divide the command, one to guard the Yellow Sea and the other the Sea of Japan. By August 1 the land situation was very serious, but the United Nations held a marked superiority both in the air and on the seas, a superiority which increased rapidly till they were almost unchallenged in either department. He traced the development of the land war from the invasion of Inchon by the United States Marines and the breaking out of the perimeter around Pusan, to the general offensive which carried the United Nations troops well into North Korean territory, to the co mter-attack by the Chinese Communists and finally to General Rigd.way*s limited cffensive in March of this. year. “During all this time,” LieutenantCommander Hoare said, “we were mine-sweeping off the east Korean coast This involved mainly challenging junks which had mines concealed in them and sweeping the coast clear of mines that had been set adrift by the North Koreans in the rapid tide. We also had to put up with the very treacherous nature of the Yellow Sea. which is both narrow and shallow, and drops 32 feet, in some places, at low tide." The commander of the Southern Military District (Brigadier G. B. Parkinson) was installed as chairman for the evening.