BIG ALLIED ATTACK

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27096, 20 July 1953, Page 9

BIG ALLIED ATTACK

South Koreans Gain Ground (Rec. 11 pjm.) SEOUL, July 19. The South Korean counter-offensive along the 18-mile central sector continued to press forward last night, the Sth Army said today. A spokesman said that most of the attacks last night gained more territory for the South Koreans.

In the Finger Ridge area, the South Koreans retook several positions which the Chinese captured during their drive southwards last week.

The South Koreans pushing northwards at the centre of the counteroffensive had to fight fiercely against stubborn resistance from a Chinese battalion, an officer said. The Koreans had to reinforce during the battle before they finally succeeded in occupying their objective—a position in front of the main line. One officer said the Chinese attacked in five places along the front 'last night with forces ranging from a company to a reinforced battalion in size. Three thousand Chinese attacked Allied positions near Kumsong near the centre of the South Korean counter-offensive, forcing the defending troops to make limited withdrawals. The Chinese attacked with two forces of 1500 men each. The first wave struck the Allied positions just before midnight and some Communist units infiltrated Allied positions. The defending troops were forced to withdraw before continuing the attack at dawn today. A front-line officer said a vicious battle raged all night. A second Chinese force struck the Allied line two miles to the west. The attack was continued by dawn after heavy fighting. South of Kumsong the Chinese probed an Allied position in strength but all probes were repulsed. During the night the Allies also probed Chinese positions in the sector. Allied artillery pounded Chinese positions all

night. The Air Force continued to give close support to the South Korean rm inter-offensive in the central and east central sectors. Light bombers used radar sights to drop 100 tons of high explosives on Communist trenches and bunkers in the Kumsong area during daylight yesterday, while 24 Japan-based Superfortresses took over the pounding during the night. The planes attacked a build up of Communist troops south of the Kum■ong river dropping high explosive anti-personnel bombs into massed Air Force said today that United States Sabre jets have shot down 120 Communist MiG’s in the last 71 days, one Sabre being lost in aerial combat