Evening star., 1950-07-31
Reds Will 0utnumber
Our Forces in Korea
Even After BuiId-Up
By Elton c. Foy
Asseeietsd Press Militory Reporter

Efcu WIFI IIle TellIOTCSu1enIS
now ashore or on the way, the
United States-South Korean force
still will number only about half
that of the enemy's savage horde
Of fighters.
This is counting everything the
United States has in Korea or
has announced as earmarked for
the fighting. And it is based also
on the estimate of one of Gen.
MacArthur's intelligence officers
that the North Korean invader,
by frantic" mobilization. has
brought his strength up to an
army Of 100000 men.
The numerical disadvantage
must be overcome by fire power.
air power and sea power.
The three United States Army
divisions, which with the South
Korean Army were carrying on
the battle as reinforcements from
the United States neared the war
zone, probably numbered no more
than 10000 men. Last week some
of the help started arriving, when
q unit rushed up from occupation
forces in Okinawa as the crisis
mounted.
South Had $4,000.
The South Koreans, when the
Communists struck on June Is,
were reported to have an army
of about $4,000 out of which eight
divisions of about 10,000-man size
were formed. There are reasons
to believe that heavy casulties
have cut this original force to
about half.
Much Of the loss occurred in
the first phase of the fighting.
The South Koreans were armed
only with defensive weapons-no
tanks. some anti-tank artillery of
too small caliber. some old-model
bazookas that were ineffective
against enemy armor. So their
losses were high as tank-led Red
ground forces chewed up their
divisions and rolled southwark
until the first thin line of a
battalion from the United States
Gath Division flown from Japan
appeared on the scene to help.
To back up the U. S. oath and
25th Infantry and 1st Cavalry
Divisions. the United States so
far has tapped only two major
elements. A fortnight ago the
1st Marine Division pushed off
from the American west coast.
Sailing shortly thereafter were the
initial elements Of the I'd Infan-
try Division. Some unidentified
units from other Army divisions
In the United States also were
readied for departure.
It is doubtful if the End Army
and 1st Marine Division, between
them. contain much more than
10000 or $4,000 men.
Defense Lines Pulled In.
Following an old, proved tactical
practice. the defense lines in Ko-
rea have been pulled in to provide
more men to protect a shorter
front. This is good practice. But
It should be remembered that the
enemy also is enabled to concen-
trate more of his attacking force
on the shortened front, for the
same reason.
When the Defense Department,
three weeks ago, ordered the Army
and Marine divisions to get ready
for the departure for the Far
East, the military picture in Ko-
rea was far different than it is
today. The front then was not
far south of Seoul and much of
the Republic of Korea was still
free. Today only the southeast
portion of the republic remains
free. Another good defense arc
exists behind the present front.
The next good one could be last
ditch line to be held while evacua-
ton was misunderstanding
the Pentagon still insists is un-
likely.
What the military high COM
mand thought it could spare from
the mobile reserve at home then,
and what the demands are now.
present two entirely different pic
lures. Our side has built up its
force with reinforcements, but the
enemy has far outstripped us in
his build-up, if Gen. MacArthur's
intelligence estimate is correct.
Guard Is Second Defense Line.
Where can more Immediately
available, trained, equipped troops
come from if the high command
decides that must be done?
Under American military policy,
the first line of ground defense is
the Army. the next the National
Guard. the third the civilian re-
servists.
The Government has proceeded
gingerly in its steps toward using
the second line. 1t has started
calling in units of the National
Guard, but not whole National
Guard divisions as was done in
1910 when the approach of war
for the United States became OBJ
vious. At the same time. it has
started tapping the third line. the
reserves, but to a limited extent.
Aside from the Guard divisions,
the only big units left in the
United States are four Regular
Army and one Marine division.
II shooting starts somewhere else
In the world, that pool must be
depended on for the initial action.
To create new divisions is a long,
long task. Nothing less than