NEW ENEMY ATTACK

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27075, 25 June 1953, Page 9

NEW ENEMY ATTACK

Allies Repulse Chinese (Rec. 11.20 p.m.) TOKYO, June 24. Americans and South Koreans fought off 6000 Chinese who attacked on either side of Triangle Hill on the central front during the night. The Allies threw the Chinese back when they tried to take Boomerang Ridge north-west of Kumwha. On the other side of Triangle Hill South Koreans and Chinese are still fighting heavily on Sniper’s Ridge. The Chinese attacked in two main drives, each at regimental strength, and fought their way on to the slopes of the ridge where United Nations artillery raked them with fire. Bitter fighting continued until 4 a.m., when the Chinese withdrew, leaving behind 500 dead. In a second big assault against the Sniper’s Ridge area the Chinese hit the South Korean positions on the ridge itself, on Jane Russell Hill and on another unnamed outpost on the side of Triangle Hill. Confused reports told of bitter hand-to-hand fighting during the dark night as South Koreans and Chinese battled in trenches with knives, grenades, bayonets and rifles.

On the southern slopes of Jane Russell Hill the Chinese attack isolated some South Koreans, who were reported to be still holding out this morning. The United States battleship New Jersey opened up with her 16in guns early this morning against entrenched Communist guns ringing the east coast port of Wonsan.

The battleship steamed into Wonsan harbour after giving the Communists a four-day respite from her guns. Seventeen Superfortresses attacked Communist airfields for the fifth successive night. Light night bombers attacked Communist supply routes behind the front.