REDS STREAM SOUTHWARD FROM PYONGYANG

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27568, 9 December 1950, Page 9

REDS STREAM SOUTHWARD FROM PYONGYANG

Three-pronged Threat To Allied Line

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 0.45 a.m. SEOUL, Dec. 8. The Communists continued today to bring reinforcements southward over the Taedong River at Pyongyang in three main streams. One column poured directly southward to take up positions in front of the Eighth Army, another force being ferried over the two-mile wide Taedong River estuary to the north-west of the United Nations line. A third Communist force poured down the centre of the peninsula to the east of the United Nations lines. This force was last reported just south of Koksan, about 60 miles north of the thirty-eighth parallel. The column threatens the right flank of the Eighth Army and at the same time may soon make contact in force with guerrillas farther south.

Military sources said if the Communists now driving down the centre managed to get enough men, the threat would almost inevitably force the Eighth Army 'to abandon its present line and retreat to the thirty-eighth parallel.'

South Korean troops just north of the thirty-eighth parallel met “increasing resistance ” today from a force of some 2000 North Korean Communists. The Reds, operating as guerrillas in the Yongchon area about 40 miles north-east of Seoul, attacked the South Koreans last night. The North Koreans are part of a guerrilla force of about 10,000 men who have been operating in the area since they were by-passed last September in the United Nations northward advance. There is no evidence that this force has linked up with the main Communist Army, last reported to be easily 60 miles farther north. The main Communist Army made several desultory probing attacks on the United Nations line. Groups of Chinese Communists fired on South Korean positions five miles south of Pyongyang but made not attempt to close. Thirty miles to the south-east other South Koreans threw back two North Korean companies after a small arms battle. A convoy of 15,000 United States marines and troops and a British commando force fought down an iceglazed Korean mountain trail to within 25 miles of Hamhung this morning, on the last lap of a bloody push out of the Chinese encirclement. An unconfirmed air report said that a relief task force knifed north from Hamhung through the Chinese lines and linked up with the tank spearhead of the beleaguered band. Frontline despatches said that the marine commanders were confident the Allied forces would escape. In all. 60.000 troops of the United States 10th Corps are falling back as fast as they can to the haven of Hamhung and its twin port of Hungnam. where evacuation is shaping up. The Americans may reach Hamhung beach-head just in time. The Chinese are closing in within sight of Hamhung in concentric drives from the north-

west and north-east. Troops of the United States 3rd and 7th Divisions have thrown up a defence perimeter around the beach-head.

General MacArthur yesterday threw in every available warplane to lay walls of fire to protect the retreating forces. The convoy of 15,000 Americans and British commandos face a hard lap along the narrow road from Kotori, which drops 3600 ft in two miles. The Chinese are waiting for them, but the huge air effort by marine, carrier and sth Air Force planes of all types may' succeed in holding the main Communist force behind a curtain of rockets, bombs and machine-gun fire. An American intelligence officer estimated that seven divisions are waiting for the United Nations troops along the road, which can easily be cut by demolition or continually blocked by a small force with machine guns on the hills on either side.

A patrol of United States Marines rescued 50 Royal Marine commandos cut off for 10 days between Hararu and Kotori. The British soldiers were first discovered on Monday when a pilot spotted the words “ help ” and “ SOS ” tramped out in the snow near two houses. Marine airmen next day dropped food and other supplies to the commandos. Then a rescue party went out. Stretcher cases were loaded on board ambulances and taken to Kotori. It was previously believed that the commandos suffered heavy losses in fighting their way out of Chinese encirclement but the return of 50 men makes their losses comparatively light. American Shooting Stars battled with Russian-type MIG 15 jets in a dogfight over the Chosin reservoir today marking the first appearance of Communist jet planes in that sector, according to 10th Corps reports. American Navy and Marine planes yesterday attacked 46 concentrations of Chinese troops in the reservoir area killing an estimated 1700.