Reds Admit Heavy Toll Of War Plants By U.S. Bombing

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23339, 23 August 1950, Page 7

Reds Admit Heavy Toll Of War Plants By U.S. Bombing

(11 a.m.) TOKYO, Aug. 22. The North Korean radio at Pyongyang today began the second instalment of a detailed report on Communist losses from United States air strikes, including a list of 11 key factories “completely destroyed.’’ American intelligence officers and observers are puzzled by the frankness of . the report about the factories which include some of the biggest industrial concerns in Asia—built by the Japanese. Various reasons are suggested: That the Communists are anxious to enlist the sympathy of other Asiatics against S American “imperialism”; that they are I* preparing their people for defeats ahead and that they want to stop the | bombers coming back. 1 The report claimed that 16,500 houses | have been destroyed and 11,582 civilians killed or wounded in raids between I July 2 and August 3. Taking a Heavy Beating The broadcasts are now beginning to claim more and more Superfortress bombers shot down in raids over the 38th parallel. This is also regarded as an indication of the heavy beating the Communists are getting from Allied aircraft. Northern “flak” is getting a" heavier and more accurate, especially around the capital, Pyongyang, and several Superforts returned from a raid recently with shrapnel damage. The latest released figures give the United Nations’ losses at 55 planes by August 19—of which very few were |v shot down in air duels—and the ComH munists at 74.

The air force spokesman pointed out the United Nations’ figures would inevitably get higher because a great air effort is mounting every day whereas the Communists would remain about the same because they are not putting aircraft up to meet the opposition. Heavy United Nations’ air strikes yesterday damaged North Korean supply and transport facilities and also • backed up the Allied ground troops in Korea with direct air support, states an air force communique. More than 500 sorties were flown by all types of United States and Australian aircraft. Superforts* Attack dropped 200 tons of ««Jgh explosives on Pyongyang and Seoul marshalling yards and on selected bridges north of tne 37th parallel. Superforts scored heavily, the bomb bursts blanketing both marshalling yards. A railroad bridge north of 1 Chungchon on the important link between Yangyang on the east coast and Seoul was in the water as a result of direct hits. A second rail bridge 14 miles southeast of Kaesong was hit. Light bombers tore up tracks at rail junctions and other selected key points from Samchok on the east coast to Suwon on the west. Fighters hit road and rail con- » voys, supply distribution centres and troop movements.