MacArthur’s Surrender Call Unheeded

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 October 1950, Page 6

MacArthur’s Surrender Call Unheeded

TOK'IO;, October 2 (Jlec. 8.30 a.m.). — South Korean troops smashed through the barbed-wire defences north of the 38tli Parallel today as North Koreans failed to answer General MacArthur’s demand for their immediate surrender.

Regiments of two South Korean divisions linked up today at Yangyang, six air miles north of the 38th Parallel. Yangyang was taken without firing a shot. Advance patrols of the South Korean Third Division near the east coast pushed as far as eight miles into North Korean territory yesterday before withdrawing during the night.

Crossed In Force

The South Koreans later crossed in force and swept ahead about two miles before running into barbedwire entanglements. The South Koreans pushed through these defences and continued to advance. North Korean prisoners, taken by the South Koreans, reported that they had been ordered to retreat to Wonsan, more than 100 miles north of the border. The South Koreans reported that they met enemy machine-gun fire along the coastal highway as they drove towards Yangyang. Warships standing offshore blasted a path for the advancing South Koreans.

United States Marines, near the west coast above Seoul, have almost reached Munsan, 10 miles below the border. Other American troops on the Seoul front are also moving northward.

Trapped Forces Troops today continued to fan out and destroy the Communists trapped in the south-west corner of Korea. These Communists, still trying to infiltrate north in small groups, surrender readily when spotted. ' The stiffest resistance in this area was met yesterday at Chongju, northeast of Taejon, where the Communists set up road-blocks. The Allies wiped them out in three hours. A Communist. regiment boldly attempted to hold the town of Chechen, 40 miles north of Hamchang yesterday, but the resistance crumbled in a few hours. Twenty-threb United Nations bombers today wiped out Nanam, a major North Korean supply assembly point, 300 miles north of the 38th Parallel. . . The South Korean Third Division has moved four miles north of Yangyang to Chosan and is attacking at that point in two-battalion strength, reports the N.Z.P.A.-Reuter correspondent, William Parrott. The command post of the Third Division has now moved to Yangyang. The orders are to keep pushing. Little to light Communist resistance has been met. The First Korean Corps headquarters reported a Red convoy of 75 vehicles spearheaded by one tank, moving south, north-west of Changjon, to engage United Nations forces.

Air Attacks

Navy air strikes were called every half-hour. The Navy has moved warships into a position offshore ready for action when needed. The attacking aircraft report having driven the convoy to cover after inflicting considerable damage. United States Superfortress bombers yesterday bombed warehouses in Pyongyang. Others attacked marshalling yards, bridges and railways north of the Communist capital. Warplanes of all types searched both sides of the 38th Parallel in force, but again reported poor results because of the lack of targets.