Evening star., 1950-07-02
Suwon Now Reported
To Be in Possession
OF South Koreans
Continued From First Page.)

but not yet commanded-cor-
respondents to observe.
It was known. however. that a
regular movement of American
forces into Korea through Pushan
was scheduled. It was not known
whether bad weather had inter-
rupted the schedule.
Air support is vital in the on
coming clash because the infantry
does not have the artillery sup
port needed to stop an armored
column.
Planes Must Be Artillery.
United States planes will have
to act as the infantry's artillery
with bombing, rocket and machine
gun attacks.
The Kun River is the next nat
ural barrier between the Commu-
nists and Taejon. It winds about
Is miles north of Taejon.
It would be strategic for the
Americans to take positions near
that natural barrier. It also would
be basic strategy to defend the
still functioning railroad which
runs north of Taejon to Seoul.
The speed of the Communist
column will depend on the abil-
ity of the North Koreans to main
tain steady flow of supplies and
reinforcements.
This question also involves the
ability of the United States Air
Force to destroy ammunition and
gasoline dumps. troop and armor
concentrations needed to keep a
push going.
In the end, American aerial
attacks on the long commune
cation lines stretching into North
Korea and on accumulated sup
plies farther southwark may be
the most decisive factor.
1t is still too early to determine
the effects of United States bomb
ing and strafing since the United
States entered the conflict. But
it doubtless has been consider
able.
Mr.. Lambert said it was possible
the Communist column which
crossed the Han River just south
of Seoul had been held. up by
United States aerial attack or had
run out of supplies.
Suwon Situation Still Unclear.
It still was not clear whether
the Communists ever had reached
Suwon. Field reports yesterday
had said that Suwon and its air
field had fallen.
Possibly a Communist recon-
snaissance force of armored cars
might have reached Suwon and
then Withdrew on meeting resist
ance or finding itself without sup
port. There are no fixed defenses
along the highways between Seoul
and Suwon.
The American withdrawal from
Suwon and abandonment of the
air field interrupted an important
airlift of United .Statessmunitions
and weapons for the South Ko-
reans. N4 ed
According to Mr.. lambert. the
American force, spurred by rumors
of a fast-moving Communist
armored column, raced out of
Suwona on few minutes notice
and pounded 90 miles down the
highway through a driving rain
southwark to Taejon.
Touch of Panic Reported.
The headquarters building at
Suwon, a former agricultural
school. was burned. So were secret
documents. Most personal possess
sions and considerable equipment
were abandoned. he said.
There was a touch of panic and
a mass of misinformation behind
the withdrawal, Mr.. Lambert's
dispatch said. Some men wanted
to stay and defend the airfield,
others wanted to depart even
faster.
Officers said Brig. Gen. John H.
Church, Gen. MacArthur's field
commander, gave the order to
evacuate against his own desires
and judgment.
Korean intelligence informa-
ton, never completely reliable,
was largely responsible for the
Information that prompted
the withdrawal. This was compli-
Gated by language barrier be-
tween American and Korean OFF,
GERS.
Earlier reports direct from Ko-
rea. given full credsnce in Tokyo
and Washington, said the North
Korean armored invaders had
taken Suwon and were spearing
southwark against South Ke-
rean defense that had virtually
collapsed.
Different Account Given.
"Gen. MacArthur's headquar-
ters communique, issued shortly
after midnight Sunday. gave a
different, though somewhat quail
fled account.
North Korean Communist
troops that have crossed the Han
River in the vicinity of Seoul are
now concentrated about ten miles
north of Suwon," it said.
Late reports indicate Suwon
itself and the Suwon airport are
being held by South Korean
forces"
The Suwon area was penetrated
by advance elements of the Com
munist forces on the night of
June 80 Friday) but apparently
not in sufficient force to hold their
gains"
The communique added that
there was some increase in enemy
activity south of the Han River,
but not much"
Official use of such words as
indicate" and apparently"
showed that the exact situation on
the most urgent Korean front still