Communist Attack Expected At Any Moment In Korea

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 December 1950, Page 5

Communist Attack Expected At Any Moment In Korea

Southern Government Told To Get Out Of Seoul, The Capital

SEOUL, Dee. 25 (Reed. 9.15 p.m.),—On the advice of th'? American military commander, the South Korean Government last night began evacuating for the second time its capital of Seoul, 30 miles below the 38th parallel, as the defending United Nations Sth. Army braced itself to meet a new communist offensive which is expected at any time now.

Powerful Chinese and North Korean armies, up to 100.000 men, are said to be moving into position little above the border and are making probing attacks at the United Nations line. There are indications that the full weight of the new Communist onslaught might be flung against the United Nations positions at any moment. In fact such an attack was expected today—in line with the common practice among the Japanese during the Pacific war to attack on Christmas Day in the hope of finding American troops off guard—but by this afternoon it had not eventuated. An Bth Army spokesman said today that no Chinese troons had been identified south of the 38th parallel yet, but he said they were lined along the, parallel and were probing the United Nations Ist and 6th Divisions’ sectors. ORDER TO EVACUATE The South Korean President, Syngman Rhee, ordered the immediate evacutaion of his capital, Seoul, last night. Rhee said that he had ordered the evacuation with reluctance, on the advice of the American commander. His Government would leave for the south, he said. “My American friends have advised me to evacuate all non-combatants and males not of military age,” he said. “We should co-operate with this advice. People who have a home or friends in the south shmld leave as soon as possible, taking food and clothing.” He called on all soldiers and police to fight to the last in the defence of Seoul, which he said he was confident would be held. There were 250,000 trained reservists awaiting equipment to defend their homeland, and more than 300,000 troops undergoing intensive training, he added. Seoul fell to the North Koreans on June 28th—the fourth day of the Korean war. After three months of North Korean occupation, it was recaptured by the Americans on September 26, following the Inchon landing. After the Communist offensive in the North last month the troops of the American Bth Army fell back to undisclosed positions described as forming a defensive arc above Seoul. A release from General MacArthur's headquarters yesterday said that in the past 24 hours reports confirmed indications of a looming Communfct offensive in the west with the building up of troops and supplies in forward areas. Chinese and North Koreans were also concentrating more and more in the north-east and there was evidence that the Manchurian "sanctuary” had been able to resume

I its role as a supply depot for heavy equipment, the release state’d. | Communist tanks and heavy artiljlery had been appearing in increasing | numbers in North Korea in the past three weeks. The release said that of 117 tanks sighted 43 were claimed las destroyed and 11 damaged. The Bth Army headquarters announced that Chinese troops of undisclosed strength are in action against its left flank, inland from the west coast, near the Imjir. River. Others were probing South Korean defences on its right centre of the peninsula, just north of the 38th parallel. Two Chinese prisoners taken on the parallel on the Imjin River front said their forces had moved south in force facing the United Nations line. During the week-end patrols sparred in no-man’s-land and strong enemy attacks were made in the area a few miles north-east of Chunchon. Referring to the latter action, General MacArthur’s communique said: “By shifting his weight slightly to the east and increasing pressure, the enemy achieved a total penetration of 5000 yards.” Chunchon township is about eight miles below the 38th parallel. The communique was vague about the composition of the enemy units. The South Korean Army reported that Chinese Communists are massing in front of the United N-tions defence line on the 38th parallel in the Yongchon, Kumhka, Hwachon area. Bitter fighting was reported south of Kwachon, where South Korean forces are said to be holding their line. In south-western Korea the United Nations “special activities” group reported killing many of 300 Communist guerrillas operating 30 miles southeast of Taegu. Communist Chinese and North Koreans are believed to have been building up steadily for a big winter offensive against the United Nations forces during the past three weeks’ lull. The Communists have the advantage of the weather according to military observers. COMMUNISTS MORE MOBILE Toughened to winter campaigning, needing’ a minimum of supplies, using camels and ponies to move them to the front —they are more flexible than the Americans and British, who are necessarily clumsily equipped for complete protection against the cold. The weather around Seoul is cold, but there is no snow and the roads are not icebound, but they are muddy, churned up, and difficult for a mechanised force such as MacArthur’s. Tanks and men are waiting for a really hard freeze which will give them a chance to use tanks to cross country over paddyfields for the first time in the campaign, but the Communists are expected to strike first.