Evening star., 1950-08-06
Red Patrols Cross
River 10 Feel Out u. ).
Lines for Big Assault
(Continued From First Page.)

morning summary SdlQ UnlUeQ
States and South Korean patrols
had kept the enemy "off balance"
In actions that lasted through
Saturday and Saturday night.
] The North Koreans were dar-
ingly massing in daylight, despite
the threat of the aerial wrath
that they can expect from su-
perior Allied air power. They
have been moving mostly by
night.
Gen. MacArthur's headquarters
said their switch to daytime
movements of men and supplies
indicated they ARE desperately
striving for main effort and
an all-out attempt to break
through the new defense lines
Lines Along NaktOng.
In the north and central sec
tors, these new lines generally fol-
low the east QefD banks of the
meandering Naktong River.
In the southern crisis area
however. the river curves sharply
eastward, so the American line
leaves it and marches south across
the marshy coastal plain.
1t was in that southernmost spot
that the Reds were massing their
greatest strength.
Taking advantage Of a rain
storm yesterday afternoon, they
also made unopposed crossings Of
the Naktong in the Mountainous
north. South Koreans had made
a planned withdrawal to ridges
there, and the enemy crossings
east and southeast of Sangju were
not regarded as an immediate
threat. This was near the hinge
of the defense lines, where Ameri-
can and South Korean forces join.
Most immediate danger points
were in the south and center.
The Reds had three divisions
in the central sector and four OF
their finest in the south.
These could develop simultane-
GUS strikes at Taegu in the center
and toward the vital port of Pu-
san in the south.
Relatively Quiet Days.
Except for the vicious give and
take of limited raids, mainly in
the south and involving the
United States 9th and 35th In
fantry Regiments. the front had /
been relatively quiet for three
days. Associated Press Core
spondent Left Erickson noted from
9Th Army field headquarters that
this was one of the longest lulls
since the Red invasion began
June 25.
Gen. MacArthur's headquarters
release raised the possibility that |
the Red central forces might sud-
denly shift to the south for the |
big push. 1t warned, however,
that the central buildup was con-
tinuing undiminished for a blow at
Taegu, main forward United States
base.
Fourteen Red Planes Destroyed.
Fourteen North Korean planes
today were reported destroyed or
damaged by American fighters
yesterday.
B-29 Superforts hammered rail-
road yards at Seoul, fallen South
Korean capital. yesterday for the
second straight day, leaving the
target in flames.
Fifth Air Force headquarters
said American Mustangs destroyed
nine Red planes on the ground at
Scouts Kimpo airfield and dam
aged five others Saturday morn
ing.
Mustang pilots also claimed
nine Red planes probably de-
stroyed or damaged in a second
strike on Kimpo yesterday after
noon. An Air Force spokesman
said, however, it could not be de-
termined whether the planes hit
in the afternoon were the same
as those shot up on the morning
strike.
The Air Force flew a record $50
sorties in 24-hour period Thurs
day and Friday. and most of these
were aimed at the Communist
on the western anG
southern fronts.
A B-26 light bomber sank a
10,000-ton enemy freighter trans
port in the 1nchon ha 'hor west of
Seoul in one of several strikes at
Communist shining facilities