COMMUNISTS FIRE ON UNARMED MEN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 15

COMMUNISTS FIRE ON UNARMED MEN

(.V-Z. Prtu Association—• Copyright) NEW YORK, November 14. Troops from North Korea attacked a group of unarmed American and South Korean personnel in the demilitarised zone along the truce line yesterday, the U nited Nations Command reported today. A South Korean officer was killed and an American soldier wounded.

The last aggression by North Korea in the truce area was in August last. A spokesman for the United Natrons Command, Colonel G. Creel, said the attack occurred at 1.30 p.m., about 80 m 2F s nort h-east of Seoul. The command had requested a meeting of the Military . must ice Commission to protest against “the unprovoked attack,** he said Americans and South Koreans had been inspectborder markers that divide the Communist and "on-Communist areas of the demilitarised zone when the bring occurred yesterday. The wounded Korean captaa was left behind when tne Americans and South Koreans withdrew to their own lines. Heavy fire from the North Korean side of the zone forced the Americans and South Koreans to plunge into the cold Han river and hide beneath the bank for almost four hours. The Communists had been informed in advance that the small unit was going into the demilitarised zone on authorised business under terms of the Korean War Armistice. The Americans and South Koreans were properly identified by yellow arm bands each man wore. The South Korean officer, who was seriously wounded and left behind, is presumed dead. A small boat sent to remove the Americans and South Koreans also was fired or) and had to be abandoned. It was recovered later when darkness fell and the Americans and South Koreans made their way south across the river.