The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-09-01
50.FR0NT
OFFENSIVE
UNDERWAY
Doughboys Make Success
full Counteratfalk- Posi-
tions Lost, Retaken

U. S. 25th Infantry Division
doughboys counterattacked today in
to the teeth of Communist south
west front offensive aimed at throw
ing the United Nations out of South
Korea, and smashed the attackers
back after an initial American re-
treat.
But the U. S. End Division, rocked
by and armored and infantry at
tack on the 25th's right flank, alb
andoned Yongsan, only 81 miles
from the highway which links Tae-
gu, main UN forward base, with Pu-
san, the Allied last-ditch supply
port.
The 25th's doughboys recaptured
strategic Hannah, which fell in the
first hours of the Communist at
tack. 1t is IS miles west of Pusan
This temporarily blunted the Red
drive on the extreme southern front.
The Reds, under orders to capture
Masan within three days jumped
off under a heavy mortar barrage
and seized Hannah before the Ann
erican counterattack threw them
out of the town. Hannah is eight
miles west of Masan. major Red
objective guarding the coastal route
to Pusan.
Allied Air Attack
| A mass Allied air attack OF al
most saturation proportions had
slowed the initial Red drive on tho
southern flank, but had failed to
stop it. Air observers said the planes
and U. S. big guns took a huge toll
of North Koreans.
| The whole attack along blazing
55-mile front was described by one
American staff officer with the 25th
Division as their big effort-and
I think it is their last one." But
most of the American lines were
holding.
Strong Red Wedge
The Reds however, drove strong
wedge between the U. S. 25th and
the U. s. Second ON the 25th's right
flank, driving the End back into
an 81 mile retreat. Yongsan was IN
flames as American conveys moved
out of the town. This area is 16
miles northwest of Haman.
| Some $4,000 Red troops were COM
mitted to the southwestern front
offensive on line extending from
point only IL miles southwest OF
Taegu to the extreme southern front.
About 10000 Reds were in the van
guard, with 10000 more behind them
in reserve. The U. S. First Cavalry
was holding down the northern
phase of the Red attack.
About Offensive
A second major Red offensive,
signalling the final about general
offensive, may burst into flame
at any moment just north OF the
present one. This would be in the
Waegwan area. IL miles northwest
of Taegu and the most direct line
to that base In the area much of the
Red strength is believed concen-
| trated
The crack Red Second Division
may already be in action somewhere
on the southwest front. and thi;
would indicate that the present ac-
ton is the Communists greatest bid
| to end the UN resistance.
Allied planes rained 1,OOO-pound
anti-personnel bombs. 500-pounders
and heavy fighter plane fire on
| the attacking Reds in About close
support of the defenders. The full
force of Allied air power has been
ordered into the big payoff battle.
Bridgeheads Growing
Communist bridgeheads across the
Naktong River were growing in the
same area, % miles southwest of
Tae9u, in which Marines and the
Gath Division wiped out the Red
foothold two weeks ago.
/, At II points along the Naktong
River, which has formed the main
Allied defense line in the west, the
Reds struck simultaneously at Am
erican End Division defenders. Two
U. S. battalions were cut off. but
were supplied by air and were fight
ing their way back to their lines.
Reds swarmed across the Naktong,
bringing their tanks with them.
Reds Reckless
Bodies are stacked up by the
hundreds. Second Division officer
told AP correspondent Jack Mac
beth. but they're still coming"