THREAT TO SUWON DEVELOPS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1950, Page 5

THREAT TO SUWON DEVELOPS

General MacArthur announced that three North Korean columns are threatening the Eastern flank of the Key town of Suwon, 23 miles south of Seoul. The. enemy is using every available means of transportation to expedite the thrust, which is believed to be an attempt to outflank and encircle the South Korean Forces - before the arrival of American reinforcements. One column has reached Yohgin, five miles east of Suwon; another is . at Kumyangjang, 10 miles south-east of Suwon; and the third is moving southwards about 30 miles East of Suwon. < Ichon Still Held The South Koreans are still holding Ichon and the line north of Suwon. They are moving reinforcements north in an attempt to contain the North Korean threat to the eastern approaches. The three Communist columns crossed the Han river east of Seoul, near Kwangjung, on Sunday and tanks carried out a reconnaisance. A ground action reported near the Han river indicates that .South Korean units are still holding positions north of the Communist vanguards or fighting their way out of the pocket. The communique said that Yak . fighters strafed and bombed South Korean forces south of the Kimpo airfield with® small anti-personnel , bombs, causing slight caualties. Fighters also strafed the Suwon airfield and periodically bombed Suw- . on’& defenders. The United States Forces’ headquarters are now completely established in Korea under the command of major-general William Dena. The Far East naval forces, composed of British and American units, . continued patrols of both the East and West Coasts, but without partic- i ular action. Transportation of muni- i tions, materials, supplies and troops from Japan to Korea continued unmolested throughout the day. Air Attacks Attacks by bombers were made against the Han river bridges, and in j the Seoul area fighters attacked troops j

and other targets. The operations included ten Superfortress sorties against the Yonpo airfield. American fighters, supported by the R.A.A.F., brought down one L.A. 7 and one. Yak and destroyed 22 trucks and damaged 29 more. Seven tanks were destroyed and five damaged. One locomotive was destroyed and three others damaged, and one ammunition dump was blown up. The losses included the “ditching” of one bomber and light damage to three Shooting Star, fighters from ground fire.