NEW CHINESE THREAT IS DEVELOPING ON NORTH-EAST FRONT

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 December 1950, Page 5

NEW CHINESE THREAT IS DEVELOPING ON NORTH-EAST FRONT

SEOUL, Dee. 1 (Reed. 11.50 pm).— A new Chinese break-through threat, now on the north-east front, was taking shape today. Reports from General Almond's 10th Corps headquarters said that considerable Chinese forces, which have already chopped across American com-

munications in the Chosin reservoir area, are trying to break through towards the east coast towns of I-lam-liung and Hungnam. The nearest Chinese troops are reported to be 30 air miles from these towns.

Any Communist break through to the coast at this point would undercut not only the United States 7th Division troops on the Manchurian border at the Yalu River town of Hyesangjin, hut would also bottle up the South Korean Capita! Division, which was last reported moving beyond Chongjin, nearly 200 air miles to the north.

It is believed both Sinanju, Anureerr and Sinanju Anju, at the mouth of the Chongchon, have been abandoned.

Observers at Bth Army headquarters think the first task of General Walker's troops, after consolidating on a new line, will be to try and keep the Communists from blocking the east to west highway from Wonsan to Pyongyang—a route for any movement of the 10th Corps reinforcements to the north-west front.—Reuter.