North Korean Campaign Has Been Fought At Heavy Cost In Life

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 August 1950, Page 5

North Korean Campaign Has Been Fought At Heavy Cost In Life

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Recd. 6 p,m.)—The army estimated today that the North Koreans had lost 50,000 men : so far in their invasion of South Korea. A spokesman said that South Ko- ! rean losses, up to three weeks ago, , were about 37,000. He said there : would be no more round-ups of Ame- ; i rican casualties until they ceased to j have value to the enemy. The last ; round-up of American casualties, is- i sued about two weeks ago, gave a total of 2616. Estimates if losses by North and South Korean forces took in killed, wounded and miss’ng. An Army spokesman said the North Koreans had been conscripting whole- j sale recently, calling up all men and women between the ages of 18 and 40. 1 “It is evident they are managing to keep a good sized nucleus of wel' trained men at the front, but all the ndlcations are that the bulk of Communist foot soldiers now are not well rained,” the spokesman said. One of

the indications came in a recent Communist attack towards the important communications centre of Taegu. The Army had excellent information that 1 30,000 men were involved in the push , towards Taegu but it apparently fizzled out. The story would have been • much different a month previously. I “I don’t mean to be over-optimistic, (but it is perfectly obvious their inI fantry is not performing as well as ' formerly and that ours is performing j better as it becomes accustomed to the type of fighting.” he said. “The balance that started heavily in favour of the Communists is now shifting somewhat." | A briefing officer said that air attacks on Communist communications also were taking toll of supplies. The 1 snokesman would not attempt to estimate the number of men remaining in the Communist Army, but he said that 12 North Korean divisions had been identified in the battle area. The Armv did not know what strength the Communists had in reserve.