North Koreans Prepare For All-out Assault On American Defences

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1950, Page 5

North Koreans Prepare For All-out Assault On American Defences

TOKIO, This Day (Rec 11.30 a.m.).—Three 4 North Korean columns of tanks are massing today for an all-out assault on the erican defences near Yongdong. The mounting offensive is aimed frontally and with left and right hooks at the American First Cavalry Division, which is dug in on a hill position astride the road and railway corridor to the Allied supply port of Pusan, 95 miles to the southForward artillery and Allied planes are hammering at enemy concentrations and a full-scale assault on the two divisions holding the central front is expected within 24 hours.

American combat patrols have recaptured Hamyang, 80 miles, west-north-west of Pusan, and continue to probe the enemy’s developing strength along the southern front. The North Koreans were driven bdck two miles west of Pusan, rhe A.mericans also contacted what is believed" to be an enemy force or regimental strength, in the Namwon The South Koreans launched a vigorous two-pronged attack on the right of the American 25th Division and drove the enemy back seven miles north-west of Hamchang.. General MacArthur’s communique today said the indications weie that

the invaders were regrouping and reorganising for the next concerted push against the American and South Korean positions. British naval forces are patrolling the east coast and American war craft the west coast, and heavy cruisers are preparing to use their big guns against troop concentrations. “Never More Confident”

The Korean war will be a long, hard, struggle, but I was never more confident of victory—ultimate victory —in my life, than lam now.” This estimate of the situation was given by General MacArthur during a surprise visit to the United States Eighth Arany headquarters in Korea. Asked to comment on the announcement that the British Commonwealth ground forces would fight alongside the United States troops, he said: “As you know, Australians are my blood brothers. Nothing could please me more than have British Commonwealth troops. I have fought with them for many years, and have a degree of confidence in them that cannot be excelled.”