Evening star., 1950-08-05
By the Associated Press

neSe dGyL1ght ttn1e tlO:5O G.m.,
EDT, yesterday, tollotos:
American and South Korean
forces kept the Communist invad-
ers "off balance" with limited
counter-attacks and patrol actions
throughout the entire defense area
tonight. Fire fights were reported
in the southern sector with pres
sure eXerted against the 9th and
35th United States Infantry Regi-
ments in the Chinju area.
However, repeated Communist
assaults were driven off with
heavy losses inflicted upon the
Red troops.
The enemy has continued to
shuttle troops and materiel during
the daylight hours, thereby pro-
viding excellent targets for artil-
lery and aircraft. This indicates
that the Reds are desperately
striving for main effort and on
all-out attempt to break through
the new defense lines.
Firm contact is expected to be
established in the central and
northern sectors and evidence
points to a regrouping and con-
centration of enemy forces in the
southern sector. Indications also
show that the Communists might
shift the main efforts of the at
tack from the central to the
southern area to disrupt the
Taegu-Pusan lines of communi-
cations.
However, buildup of enemy
strength in the central sector
does not diminish the concurrent
threat of attempted penetrations
through the Taegu corridor.
The enemy has made no ad-
vances since the United Nations
forces withdrew to the more
stable defense line and no cross
ings have been made in force
across the Naktong River.
TOKYO, Aug. S (P.-The
tert of United States 9Th Army
communique No. II issued By
Gen. MacArthur'S headquarters
at 7::30 pm. $3.50 am. EDIT:
The Air Force is dropping
leaflets written in Korean to
refugees telling them not to cross
the river but to take to the hills,
that supplies will be dropped to
them.
There are two reports of un-
identified planes having strafed
friendly installations during the
night Of As August. One was in
Masan, the other was in the
South Korean sector.
The Air Force this morning re-
ported five tanks on the west
bank of the river in the vicinity
of Waegwan. Reports stated four
were destroyed by air strikes and
artillery fire and that the other
one was under attack. No sub
sequent reports on this action
was received.
/ There is a build-up Of enemy
forces along the Naktong River
east and southeast of Sangju.
At some points in this area the
enemy was crossing the river this
afternoon.
Air reconnaissance reported
this afternoon that the bridge
in the vicinity of Hyopchon was
being rebuilt. An air strike was
called for to disrupt such repair
work.
In the 25th Division sector the
action was limited to friendly
artillery firing against enemy
artillery emplacement troop con-
centrationS.
TOKYO, Saturday, Aug. S.
TeTt of Korean release No. 204,
issued at 2:05 pm, Korean day.
light time (12:05 a.m., eastern
daylight time:
The tempo of the Air war over
Korea reached a new high on
August as United States Far East
/ Air Forces fighters, bombers and
transports. and Royal Australian
Air Force fighters launched a
record number of sorties for a
single day since the beginning
of the Korean conflict.
More than $50 sorties by all
types of aircraft were flown dur
ing the 24-hour period lending
midnight Friday, Korean time).
Fifth Air Force B-26 light
bombers on a daylight mission
to the Inchon harbor area sur
prised and sank a freighter or
transport estimated to be of about
10000 tons. The ship was un-
loading cargo into tugs or lighters
approximately 5000 yards off
shore when the attack occurred
and was left sinking after two
bombing runs by the B-26s. Two
tugs were also believed sunk in the
same attack.
-Four smaller coastal ships were
damaged by F-80 jet fighters in
straflng and rocket strikes at
Sinchon. 7 miles east of Inchon,
and two wooden ships were hit
and damaged in Inchon harbor.
The fighters confirmed the sink
ing of the freighter by the B-26s
in the same area
B-29 Super Fortresses of the
Far East Air Forces Bomber
Command staged a successful at
tack on the Seoul marshalling
yards, an important center for
the movement of military sup
plies and equipment south to the
battle front. Approximately 80 i.
tons of high explosives were
dropped in near-perfect patterns
cutting off the northern and
southern choke-points and dam
aging machine shops on the west ;
ern side. !
Numerous fires were observed