38th PARALLEL REACHED BY UNO FORCES

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 September 1950, Page 5

38th PARALLEL REACHED BY UNO FORCES

“War In South Over”: Next Move Awaited TOKIO, September 30 (Rec 11 a.m.).—UNITED NATIONS FORCES HAVE REACHED THE 38th PARALLEL—THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA. South Korean forces, racing up the east coast, arrived at the border late yesterday afternoon. An Eighth Army announcement last night said the South Korean forces had been instructed to advance to the 38th Parallel and then stop and regroup. The spokesman, who made the announcement, said he would not comment on the prospects of further orders after the regrouping. The Associated Press correspondent says it is generally believed at General MacArthur’s headquarters and by the field commanders that the United Nations troops will be ordered to enter the North Korean pass through Pyongyang and extend their authority to the borders of China.

Elements of the South Korean Third Division, late yesterday, bombarded Communist forces on a hill straddling the 38th Parallel. United Press correspondents, flying over the area in an American transport, said they saw South Korean artillery two miles inland from the east coast, firing at North Koreans. Long Convoys Long convoys of South Korean vehicles were seen fast approaching the 38th Parallel, two or three miles from a hill straddling the parallel. Off the coast were several United Nations warships. The aircraft flew 10 miles beyond the parallel, but saw no indication of Communist concentrations. The Eighth Army Commander, Lieutenant-General Walton Walker, said last night that the North Korean Army had been shattered, and added: “As far as we are concerned, the war is over. The enemy’s army has disintegrated into ineffective pockets, which have no real offensive power.” General Walker said the United Nations forces killed 75,000 enemy troops in the last three months. “This is equal to seven full-strength divisions, and before we are through the mopping-up the total will be even larger.” Racing North

Eighth Army Headquarters reported that United Nations spearheads yesterday raced an average of 15 miles north and west through territory held only lightly by the Communists. Pilots reported that South Koreans and Americans were advancing as far west as Nonsan and as far north as Imokchong, 10 miles from Yongwol, 15 miles north of Samchok, on the east coast. Allied warplanes had one of their biggest days of the campaign yesterday, mopping up fleeing Northerners and destroying equipment. Communist activity in the InchonSeoul beachhead area during the 24hour period ended at midnight last night was confined to four small counter-attacks.

All organised Communist resistance broke yesterday in the. First Cavalry Division sector and prisoners came tumbling in in hundreds. The division, after driving 180 miles north of the Naktong river in five days and linking up with elements of the Seventh Infantry Division from the Inchon bridgehead, has now been ordered to stop its advance and consolidate. The North Korean troops cut off

and isolated .by the Division’s massive thrust have melted away into the wood and scrub-covered hills. About 2000 ragged and half-starved North Koreans have been rounded up in the past 48-hours. One prisoner declared than an officer ordered the men in his unit to disband and work their way north across the 38th parallel alone or in small groups.

Enemy Tanks Knocked Out The Cavalry Division’s anti-tank teams have knocked out 30 enemy tanks attempting to cut through the American corridor and break out to Northern territory. The British Brigade has lost contact with the Communists and patrols have gone out 15 miles in the SongjuTaegu area without finding any North Koreans.

Australian ground units have strengthened the element of the British brigade in the clean-up operations around Songju.