Laurel outlook., 1950-11-29
By ERNEST H%OBERECHT

United Press Staff Correspondent
Tokyo, Thursday, Nov. 30
(UP) United Nations force
withdrew to Anochongchon rive
line in bloody fighting Wednesday
but a 250,000-man red army wa.
passing around their flank anC
striking within 10 miles of Pyong.
yang in a vast encircling drive.
Upwards of $4,000 other Chinese
communists, attacking to prevent
a junction Of United Nations forces
from east and west across Korea's
narrow neck, cut off most of the
u. S. First marine division and
parts of two Seventh division regi-
ments near the Chosin reservoir.
Flying boXcars and transports
dropped ammunition and medical
supplies to the isolated troops, and
helicopters were removing the
wounded.
A high marine officer said pris-
oners' statements indicated the
Chinese have five divisions in &C
ton around the Chosin reservoir,
apparently in addition to the more
than POO, 900 Chinese disclosed by
Gen. Douglas Macarthur Tuesday
to be in action in the northwest.
The totals would place the number
of Chinese and North Korean
Communists in action at more than
100000.
A statement issued by Gen. Wal
ton w. Walker, commander of the
U. S. Eighth army, said that the
assault launched by the Eighth
last Friday probably saved u
forces from a trap which might
have destroyed them. He said that
had the allies waited passively to
be hit by more than 100000 Chi
nese, the communists very shortly
would have doubled that number
from across the Yalu river bound
airy with Manchuria.
Reports both from the front and
from advanced Eighth army head
quarters indicated a major battle
was shaping up al Sunchon, only
about 80 miles north of Pyngyang
and some 20 miles below the
.hongchon river, hinge of the
shortened United Nations line. The
Chinese were driving for a juno
tion with a strong guerrilla force
estimated at least 10000 men at
Sunchon, and it was possible the
junction already had been made.
The communists then would be
ready to try to drive straight west
toward the Yellow sea in a move
to entrap four American divisions,
South Korean division and Brit
ish and Turkish brigades concen-
trated along the Chongchon.
The communists threw a road
block across the highway from
Sunchon, only 10 miles from
dyongyang, and attempted to am
push a convoy. The fate of the
was not known for sure,
)ut it was believed to have gotten
through.
United Press Correspondent
ilenn Stackhouse reported from All
,Gvanced command post that the
y%eneral withdrawal of American
nd South Korean divisions jammed
he roads along the river, and that
everywhere officers and men told
i'm "This is the beginning of
war III and we're caught in
he middle of it,"
There were no late reports on
he progress of the ROK Eighth
ivision and other U. N. reinforce
nents attempting to check the
chinese drive toward the link-up
18th the North Korean guerrillas.
Air reports placed Chinese cav
;rymen near Sakchahg, only 10
tiles from the last known guer-
Lila position.
Snow and severe weather nam
cred airforce aid to the hard I
ground troops, but did not
top it. An airforce spokesman
that B-26 light bombers J
estroyed three red regiments, be- l
ween T~okchong and Kunu at the )
lnnel mouth of the Chinese break
trough Wednesday in a series of
augmentation bombing attacks.
'hree would be about 5000 men. ,
larine fighter bombers and bomb !
RS in the Chosin reservoir area s
ontinued to assault advancing j
.hinese with fire bombs, fragmen- ]
alton bombs, rockets and a ma !
hine gun strafing sweep. 1t was |
.nceded that the cut off marines