Evening star., 1950-07-01
Korea
Continued From First Page.)

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fense line last night. Unofficial
estimates of the strength of this
column range up to 1000 men.
Korean Defense Ministry sources
said the South Koreans were hold
ing elsewhere along the 75-mile-
long strategic Han River line.
The same sources said 400
Southerners had inflltrated into
Communicated Seoul, presum-
ably for street fighting or to har-
rass the Reds. The invaders have
held the capital since Tuesday
night or Wednesday.
2 Divisions North of Line.
At least two South Korean divi-
sions are still fighting far north of
the Han River line. The 9th Di-
vision is in the Chunchon area
and the 9th Division is on the
northeast coast just south of the
38th parallel.
Reliable Americ n military
sources said the South Korean
divisions which have met the Reds
in combat are now at rs per cent
of strength or less. This gives E
good indication of the beating the
defenders have taken in the seven
days of war.
The word that the "Yanks are
coming" spread like. a fame
through this city. Several joyful
South Koreans pressed the hand
of an American who told them
the news.
ASSOCIATED Press Core
spondent William Jorden said
the men in the American ex-
peditionary force appeared hap
py and fit Jorden is in South
Japan and saw them take off.
They apparently arrived at the
airfeld last night.
(The giant transports were
loaded with supplies and equip
ment, including jeeps, then the
troops piled in. Some of them
waved from open doors before
the planes roared out to the
runway and took off,
Aerial Surveys Made.
American military authorities
made aerial and land surveys to-
day in an effort to learn whether
Suwon and its strategic airfield
had definitely been occupied by
the enemy.
United States officers said re-
ports last night definitely indi-
Gated enemy vehicles were in the
Suwon area But Korean sources
said they telephoned Suwon today
and were informed the city and
the airport were still in Southern
hands.
An American military spokes-
man said Brig. Gen. John Church,
Gen. MacArthur's field COM
mander, made the decision to
evacuate Suwon strictly against
his desires"
Gen. Church said the battalion's S
first assignment would be to
hold strategic bridges Is to 30
miles north of Taejon. He added
that the United States will have
at least one division in combat.
He said Americans with South
Koreans would drive the North
erners back of the 38th parallel.
Asked what would happen if the
Russians participated with North
erners, Gen. Church said.
IF the Russkies come down,
We'll fight the Russkies."
Airlift Begun Before Noon.
The airlift of American elements
across 100 = mile wide Tsushima
Strait between Japan and Korea
began before noon.
A fighter escort rode herd on
/ the transport planes on the alert
for any attempt at North Korean
interception. There were no re-
ports of any aerial opposition to
the operation.
The railroad trip from Pusan to
Taejon usually requires about
three and a half hours. Presum-
ably, trains were steamed up and
awaiting when the first troop
laden planes set down.
Some headquarters officers said
that incredibly primitive COM
munications had prevented them
from knowing the exact progress
of the campaign, except after long
lapses.