Evening star., 1950-09-17

AnOLner CaQk-SpeaTeQ united
States Marine force came pound
ing down the east bank of the
Han River across from Kimpo
airfield and entered Neungg Kok,
northwestern Seoul suburb, the
Republican announcement said.
Allies to Use Kimpo Base.
The Marines already had cap
tured Kimpo, Is miles northwest
of Seoul, against light North Ko-
rean resistance. 1t is the best air
base that Korea has to offer, and
a United States Air Force spokes-
man who announced its capture
predicted it soon would be in
Allied operation.
Reports from 10th Corps Head
quarters. apparently behind the
South Korean radio broadcast,
placed American Marines II miles
from Seoul at an unspecified time
yesterday, but said they were ad-
vancing against "crumbling re-
siStance."
Associated Press Correspondent
Bill Ross, with Marine forward
units, reported they had "medi-
UNI" casualties from Red mortar,
small arms and machine gun fire
as they pushed deeply into Red
territory without much oppoSi-
tion."
Tenth Corps headquarters said
$50 North Korean regulars were
captured in two days OF fighting.
Reds Ignore Drive.
The North Korean Communist
radio took no note of the west
coast assault and threat to the
Red army's main supply line. In
its usual vein, it said the Northern
forces Continuing to inflict heavy
losses on the enemy" but 1t ad-
mitted ''heavy fighting on ali
fronts"
South Korea's naval chief, Rear
Admiral Sohn Wun II, told AS
sociated Press Correspondent Rel
man NORM at Inchon:
THE enemy is different now;
he is not fighting. do not believe
the North Koreans have any
organized army units this far
north"
Admiral Sohn said he thought
the Reds would surrender if they
had a chance.
Marines Ahead of Schedule.
A delayed dispatch from AS
sociated Press War Correspondent
Russell Brines said the Ameri-
can MarineS were ahead of sched-
ule yesterday in their drive for
Seoul.
The Leathernecks had orders
to push into the former South
Korean capital with all possible
speed" said the dispatch, which
carried Saturdays date.
1.-TWO Marine landing units
jumped off in a coordinated at
tack at 6:15 am. (5:15 pm. EDIT,
Friday. Two hours later they
Joined two miles east of the cap
tured port city.
"By early afternoon the Ma
rines had taken dominating hills
six miles east of Inchon. From
these heights they could sweep
with fire every road entering the
port.
by $3.50 pm. t7::3a am. EDIT |
Saturday the Americans held a
10-mile arc. 1t started about 31a |
miles north of Inchon, curved out
eight miles toward Seoul and on
to the tide fats of the Yellow
Sea six miles southeast of Inchon.
Maj. Gen. Oliver P. Smith, the
Marine commander, established
a command post at Inchon. That
indicated the security of the port
which South Korean marines
cleaned out last night"
BEACHHEAD PERIMETER
United Nations forces launched
a general offensive on the rain
lashed southern front. They ad-
vanced, but it was hard going
through deep mud and against
an enemy who sometimes ran
but more often stood and fought
with the desperation of death. 1t
was a bitter, seesaw conflict az
most points.
United States End Division
troops had the best success in the
early hours of the southeastern
general offensive. A division
spokesman said they drove four
and one-half miles to the east
bank of the Naktong river against
Reds pulling back westward in a
general exodus" and in vast,
mad confusion"
The I'd Division failed, however,
in the first attempt to drive North
Koreans from vital Hill 201, which
commands vast sweep of the
Allied central front. They smashed
to within 300 yards of the hilltop
late yesterday, but nightfall forced
them to make a heart breaking
withdrawal down it's slopes.
Captured Red equipment on the
Naktong front alone included Is
field pieces, three mortars, bat
terry of 76-mm. guns, a battery
of 120-mm. pieces, four ammuni-
tton dumps and a large quantity
OF small armS-materiel left be-
hind by the fleeing enemy.
Other Allied ground forces
struck forward one to five miles
against sitter Red opposition on
the extreme south, the north and
the northeast sectors of the 12O-
mile United Nations perimeter.
Reds Resist StubbornIy.
Correspondent Macbeth, with
the United States 1st Cavalry Di-
vision, part of the newly formed
1st Corps, reported gains on both
wings of the 30-mile- wide corps
front, but stubborn North Ko-
rean resistance that stalled the
big push in the center north of
Taegu.
CrorEor Ror;~s - c~,,~o.