Evening star., 1950-07-26
Korea
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battle lines around Yongdong have
stabilized considerably"
He added confidently: New
American strength - which in
cludes an Army and a Marine
division en- route from the United
States - assures the Korean
"beachhead can be held"
Farthest Advance Point.
Hadong was the farthest point
of advance in the dangerous west
coast sweep by North Korean 4th
Division elements through light
South Korean Police opposition.
The 5th Air Force spokesman
said the Hadong attack was a
beautifully co-ordinated" air and
ground operation.
1t represented a start toward
Gen. MacArthur's promise that
"steps were being taken" to check
the North Korean sweep threat
ening the development of Ameri-
can supply lines.
The spokesman said the carrier
based planes for the first time
Joined in ground support over the
western and central fronts, strik-
ing in the Yongdong and Ham
chang areas with excellent re-
suits"
He said carrier aircraft few
four separate missions to aid
ground forces.
Gen. MacArthur's spokesman
asserted a continuous line" had
been established. But he alluded
only to the short central sector
around Yongdong-placing the
battle line from Yongju in the
northeast to near Yongdong.
He CLOSED over the fact that the
whole left flank in the southwest
has been circled by North Korean
forces. He termed them insig-
nificant and unimportant. Yet
these tank-led forces had forged
farther east toward Pusan by the
hour, although their strength was
small. Sissy 5.
The Communists lightning drive
in the south was a two-pronged
move-each led by tanks. One
pushed to Hadong. the other
reached Hamyang, As miles south
west of Kumchon.
Kumchon is a vital communica-
tions and supply center for two
United States divisions-the 1st
Cavalry and the 25th Infantry-in
advanced positions.
While American and South
Korean forces fought fiercely for
every mountainous mile on the
front arching northeast of aban-
doned Taejon, the North Koreans
were free-wheeling in the south.
At only one point had there been
evidence Of a battle. A United
States 9th Army spokesman in
Korea said South Korean marines
and national police forces had
retaken Namwon, rail and high
way junction so miles south of
Taejon.
Evidently the Communist col
umns were moving at night-as
they had in their sweep toward
the Kun River. American and
British airmen from two carriers
few more than 100 sorties in the
southwest, but reported results
were negligible due to lack of
targets"
Land-based fighters were flying
day and night in an effort to
stem the Red tide.
Planes Hammer Reds.
Favored by sunny skies, Allied
fighters and bombers hammered
relentlessly at enemy communica-
tions, railroad marshalling yards
and ground forces.
Those results weer reported yes
terday by the Far East Air Force:
B-29 Superfortresses bombed 20
bridges and set ablaze the mar
shalling yards at Wonju, so miles
southeast of the captured South
Korean capital of Seoul.
Six tanks damaged or destroyed
by American and Australian fight
er planes rowing the entire battle
area. Also hit by the F-80 jets and
F-51 Mustangs were 80 trucks,
four railway cars, miscellaneous
vehicles and warehouses. Troops
were strafed.
Jets Fly First Night Missions.
The widespread raids followed
the first night missions in history
for United States Air Force jets.
Eight F-80S attacked North Ko-
rean ground forces.
On the east coast, much bat
tered Yongdok took another naval
shelling-this time from q United
States destroyer. Heavy casual
ties were reported among Red
troops in the area.
A naval announcement reported