The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-07-21
REDS BATTER
Defense FROM
; DIRECTIONS
US. Lend-Lease Tanks Re-
ported Used by Attackers
-Tedjon Loss Is Blow
(By the Associated Press

Nby Jfle Associated PreSS)
Harassed by hail of sniper and
enemy artillery fire. American
troops dug into new South Korean
defense positions today and braced
or expected new Communist thrusts
from at least three directions.
The battered oath Division, its
Commanding Major General among
he missing. took up hill positions
everal miles east Of flaming Taejon.
captured by the Communists in a
aeavy tank and Infantry drive. The
CTS hoped to hold these new posi-
ions until American strength builds
up behind them for a counterof-
fensive
The Communists stopped at Tae-
jon, failing to follow through with
IN expected renewed attack against
she new American positions. but
US. forces warily watched for new
thanking and development move
nents.
Enemy snipers lined the road Of
he American retreat and kept up
larassing fire while enemy tank
,uns opened up and machinegun
ire sprayed over the withdrawing
defenders. American artillery was
rained on the hills where bands
# Red guerrillas were reported try
ng to infiltrate
All Directions
Front dispatches said the Reds
POSED potent threats from the north,
northeast and southwest.
The dispatches said the Reds
;ould drive down from Chongju, 20
niles north Of Taejon in an TAT
.empt to cut the main line railway
behind the US. front east of Tae-
ION. Other Red columns could move
Town narrow secondary roads across
he mountains from Tanyang, SIS
niles north of Chongju, threatening
The railhead at Kumchon In the
lew American defense zone. South
east of Taejon the Reds were
threatening another thanking and
development move.
Communist tanks and troops had
itormed into the flaming key rail
junction at Taejon after a bitter
,wo-day battle which cost the Reds
iearly. One front report. not con-
firmed. said four American-made
;anks. possibly lend-lease material
yiven Russia in World War II, had
oeen used by the Communists in
he Taejon drive.
Cruisers 60 to Work
On the east coast American and
British cruisers shelled and knocked 4
out the Communist communications
center at Yongdok, Is miles north of
5he beachhead held by Americans Of
he mechanical First Cavalry Divi-
sion. Headquarters has not reported
IN the progress of the First Cavalry !.
,r the US. 25th, which landed this
week, but Yongdok may be First
5avalry objective.
Gen. Macarthur said the loss OF
Taejon would be psychological
blow to the South Korean people.
whose government fled the city sew
eral days ago, but the withdrawal
has mo special significance" from
The military viewpoint. The higher
country to the southeast is much
better suited to a delaying action.
Enemy infiltration has been a
serious problem to the Americans.
but Gen. Macarthur said the prob
lem has been reduced to man
ageable proportions" and soon may
be unimportant. How this was to be
lone was kept secret. but 1t. Gen.
Walton H. Walker, Eighth Army
Commander, was reported pleased
with progress in this respect.
Air Force ROars
Bad weather hampered Allied air
action, but more than 100 individual
flights were flown and two Russian
built Yak fighters were downed
yesterday. B-29's roared over North
Korea again. dropping 160 tons Of
bombs on five major airfields and
bridges Yak fighters were driven
off.
Reconnaissance pictures showed
the B-29's in their Sunday raid par
alyzed rail traffic in Seoul. Rail
movements to the southern battle
lines from Seoul will be prevented
for some time. communique said.
American carrier-based pilots
have reported indications of radar-
controlled anti-aircraft fire in
North Korea. The carrier planes
have been carrying out widespread
raids on strategic targets.