Communists Seem To Be Moving To Outflank The Eighth Army

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 December 1950, Page 5

Communists Seem To Be Moving To Outflank The Eighth Army

SEOUL Dec 7 (Reel 11'40 pm).— Communist Armies, advancing southward from Pyongyang, appeared today to be attempting to envelop the United Nations Bth. Army in a pincer movement.

Large Communist troop concentrations were reported moving southward in the Koksan area, 50 miles southeast of Pyongyang. This threat to the right flank of the United Nations line was accompanied by a new drive from the northwest.

Pilots reported that a “fleet" of barges and sailboats is carrying troops across the Taedong estuary from Chinnampo, 30 miles southwest of Pyongyang. Mustang pilots swooped low over the boats and showered them with flaming napalm, setting eight boats ablaze. The remaining 30 it is report-

ed, made the two mile crossing unscathed. The estuary crossing now places a Communist force 25 miles northwest of Sariwon, a main road and rail centre of the New United Nations defence line in north west Korea. If further landings are made in sufficient strength, the Communists will be able to menace both flanks of the Bth Army’s lines. The Sth. Army reported today that for the fourth successive day it had had no ground contact with Communists. American patrols said they had not found enemy front lines despite probes up to four miles. Some obsevers believe the Communists are concentrating on building up their flank and frontal forces before opening a new offensive to drive the Bth. Army completely out of North Korea.