Chinese Communist Forces Renew Heavy Assault On The Americans In North Korea

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 November 1950, Page 5

Chinese Communist Forces Renew Heavy Assault On The Americans In North Korea

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Bee. 11.55 pin).—Chinese Communist forces renewed a heavy assault in the Sinanju area early today. They attacked American 24th. Division infantrymen defending the Chongeon River line. The battle quickly developed into a fierce hand-to-hand struggle. American warplanes unleashed a heavy air attack against the Communists in an effort to assist the American infantrymen. ,

The division’s officers reported, after eight hours’ fighting, that they thought they could withstand the attack. , The Communists attacked on the Americans’ left and right flanks, and on the left drove forward nearly n mile, but the 'Americans stopped this push and beat back that on the right flank. The area of the attack is about 15 miles north-east of Sinanju. The American 24th Division is holding part of a 30-mile long defence line. Two other American divisions —the Ist Cavalry and 2nd Infantry—the Britis Commonwealth Brigade and three South Korean Divisions are concentrated in other sections of the line. Communist forces launched an attack against British positions last night, and a battalion and supporting American field artillery units withdrew after inflicting heavy casualties on the Communists. The battalion’s own losses were one casualty and one gun destroyed by its own forces. United Nation’s air force pilots report continued Communist efforts to build up strength north of Unsan. A headquarters spokesman today Indicated that Communists had pene-

trated south of the Chongchon River. He said that Ist Cavalry Division patrols had taken 42 prisoners and captured four trucks as well as small arms and mortar shells south-east and south-west of Anju. Elements of the 24th Division early this morning were driven back about 1000 yards by a heavy Communist attack on the left Hank north-east of Anju, north of the Chongchon River front. A simultaneous attack was made on the right front of the same American forces. It was also described as heavy, but the outcome of this oction has not yet been reported. The latest Communist action is believed to be aimed at a break through toward the United Nations beachheas at Anju, commanding one of the main roads south to Pyongpang, but the spokesman emphasised chat the action was still in progress and that the United Nations line had not been broken. Further north-east, in the WonniKunuri sector, United Nations forces are holding a firm line. It is believed that pressure on this sector has somewhat eased, partly due to the Communists paying greater attention to the Anju sector.