Evening star., 1950-08-02
Americans Recapfure
Heights Near Chinju,
Abandon Kumchon
Continued From First Page.)


resistance "to each North Korean
attack"
The communique said South
Koreans were battling for Yong
dok on the east coast anchor of
the battleline. But the city. once
reported in southern hands, be-
longed to neither side"
o. H. P. King, Associated Press
correspondent in the hills near
Chinju, reported both Chinju and
the nearby village of Sanction were
fired by United States planes in
f1ve-hour raid.
AS the battle progressed, the
Americans seized the heights at
Sangmun, 10 miles east of Chinju,
Mr.. King said. The Reds closed
behind them. Quickly the Amer
leans seized positions at Wonbung,
5 miles southwest of the village
Of Chungam. Mr.. King reported.
He said 35-ton Sherman tanks
went into action a few hours after
the vital battle in the Chinju area
started.
If the Americans lose there, the
Reds could move eastward to a
steep ridge where an American
tank-supported element was trying
to hold the terrain that levels out
in a fiat costal plain almost all the
remaining way to Pusan. There is
no river barrier beyond the steep
ridge.
Force Holding It's Own.
"This force is holding its own" ;"
said Maj. Gen. John Church, new
commander of the oath Division.
Gen. Church said the United
States tanks met fire from Red
tanks in dug-in positions.
AS the battle ragged. heavily
armed Marines, brought direct
from the United States by ship.
pulled into South Korean part,
ready to move to the front.
I'VE will give them the best
we've got and that's a lot" said
Marine sergeant, veteran of World
War II and typical leatherneck.
The Marines came loaded for
heavy combat. They are going
into battle behind hulking M-26
tanks weighing As tons and carry
ing Comm. guns. There has been
nothing like that fighting on the
American side thus far.
The Marines also carry flame
throwers and the new tank-killer
bazooka.
The thrusting and enveloping
North Koreans on the Chinju
front broke into fiat ground that
stretches to the meSa American
road-rail supply lines and to Pu-
san itself.
Called Most Critical.
Gen. Macarthur called the
mounting battle the most critical
of the war.
A spokesman at his headquar-
ters said the enemy efforts had
been checked but not stopped.
The Reds were expected to hurl
all of their remaining tanks into
the battle aimed at pushing. the
Americans off the peninsula be-
fore their reinforced defenseS can
make decisive stand.
Planes with bombs, rockets and
machine guns hunted out assem-
bling Communist forces, including
many tanks in the Chinju area.
Naval and aerial forces hit the
two southern ports of Mokpo and
YoSu, supply bases for the Com
munists behind the big push in
the southeast.
British and South Korean ma
val units destroyed warehouses
and supplies at Mokpo.
United States destroyers sup
ported smaller South Korean
craft in a similar action at Yosu.
The Reds used sampans to get
supplies ashore at both places.
Enemy efforts to cut communi-
cations between Taegu, provincial
capital 55 miles northwest of Pu-
san. and the big southeastern port
failed to gain momentum despite
the fullest Communist effort in
that area.
500 Sorties in Day.
IN 500 sorties-the biggest day
yet for air power in the Korean
war - United States planes hit
chemical and metal plants in
North Korea and destroyed seven
tanks, As trucks and three artil-
lery positions in the forward
battle areas.
Communist pressure forced with
drawals along the twisting front.
Red shells fell in the outskirts of
Kumchon, on the central front,
forcing back units of the 1st Cav
airy. The foot troopers of the
LOST.