Strong North Korean Counter- Attack Against Southerners

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 October 1950, Page 5

Strong North Korean CounterAttack Against Southerners

SEOUL, Oct 27 (Recd 11 pm' North Koreans have launched "si

prisingly strong and effective'' counter-attacks against two South Korean Divisions on a front about 70 miles north of Pyongyang, an Sth. Army spokesman announced today.

Well-directed enveloping manoeuvres were launched last night against the South Korean Ist. Division near Unsan. Another hit the 2nd. regiment of the South Korean 6th. Division near Onjong, 10 miles north-east of Unsan. Both Unsan and Onjong are about 55 miles from the Manchurian border. The 2nd Regiment of the South Korean 6th Division and a unit of the South Korean Ist Division were surrounded by North Koreans. The Ist Division unit was supplied from the air today and relief columns were sent from both north-east and southeast to engage the counter-attacking forces, which forced limited withdrawals in other sectors.

The first enemy air action since the

fall of Pyongyang was reported today. Five bombs were dropped on units of the United States 24th Division, 15 miles north of Pyongyang, last night.

Ground forces above Pakchon were fighting amid the first snows of winter. Field reports said there was a growing feeling that the North Koreans hoped to null back into the mountains for a i*tnd throughout the winter. United Nations officers Acknowledged that it would be a tough job to dig them out of snow-covered mountaain peaks. A South Korean spokesmah said intelligence sources reported that the North Koreani planned a main line on through Manpojin, Changjin and Kapsan to Kolchu. Chosan and Manpojin are near the border on Ihe north-west and Changjin and Kapsan are 40 and 25 miles, respectively, south of the border in the centre, and Kolchu is 27 miles from the border on the north-east.