The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-08-08
RED FORCES
FORD RIVER,
new THREAT
North Korean Coast Bonn
bdrded by UN Naval
ForCes-PIanes Attack
(By the Associated Press)

(By the Associated Press)
United Nations -orces resumed
their counterattack on the blazing
Southern Korea front today. To the
north, Red troops swarmed across
the Naktong river in grave threat
to Taegu. On the east coast 1000
Red troops or guerrillas were re-
ported stabbing within five miles
OF the US. beachhead at Pohang.
Gen. MacArthur's headquarters
announced the southern offensive by
Marines and Doughboys stabbed on
ward toward Chinju. Communist
jumpoff point threatening Pusan, q.
s. supply base IS miles away.
The new threat on the east coast
was reported by South Korean Army
sources. Pohang, east coast port
where the US. First Cavalry Divi-
sion landed, is rs miles south of
Yongdok, where South Koreans are
resisting mounting Communist pres
sure.
Reds Ford River
Front reports said at least 5000
Red troops forded the Naktong river
barrier in darkness for a threat to
Taegu. South Korea's provisional
capital and a key to American de-
lenses In the remaining beachhead.
More thousands were reported mass
ing on the far side of the river, with
Red tanks rolling up.
Tokyo headquarters said.
The possible threat from the
small bridgefeads thrown across the
Naktong river has neither increased
nor decreased"
1t did not say whether this re-
ferred to the reported Taegu threet
or to Communist stabs 80 miles
to the south In the Changnyong
area. where US. troops we're bait
ling to clean out the bridgeheads.
Headquarters said enemy casu-
alties continued high, with about
300 Communists killed or captured
in mopup Of pockets by Task
Force Kean, the offensive drive
commanded by Maj Gen. William
Kean. American casualties for "a
hours were placed at 10 killed, so
wounded and seven missing.
Red Fording Armor
US. Eighth Army headquarters In
Korea said the Red break through
on the Naktong river line was of
primary concern" now. Three Com
munist regiments slipped across the
river and more were on the way. At
least one tank was across and the
Reds were attempting to ferry over
more arn1or in the same manner in
which they preached other water
defense lines in their march down
the Korean peninsula.
The new Communist offensive
was only is miles northwest OF
Taegu. Another Red prong speared
across the Naktong about 30 miles
to the south near Changnyong.
Fresh us. troops were ordered to
wipe out this bridgehead Tuesday
at nightfall. Maj. Gen. John E.
Church, commanding the oath Divi-
sion. ordered the bridgehead cleared
out by darkness, but later said it
probably couldn't be done before
tomorrow
Counterattack Launched
The fresh Doughboys launched a
counterattack which plunged ahead
for mile half way up an important
ridge against fierce Red mortar and
small arms fire.
The main fighting on the Naktong
river front was about 80 miles to
the north in the vicinity of Waeg-
wan and east of Kumchon posing
a dagger threat at Taegu in an
area whose terrain might be hard
to defend.
In the extreme south the US.
Marines scaled valley walls and
battled over rugged hills to rescue
the Fifth Regimental Unit from
Communist flank attack which tenn
porarily stalled the Leatherneck
drive.
On the extreme northeastern end
OF the front. the Reds exerted heavy
pressure against defending South
Korean Divisions. but the attack
was reported contained" Allied
warships off Yongkod pounded
enemy installations.
Naval Forces In Action
Other U.N. naval forces steamed
north for long-range bombardment
Of North Korea's east coast. Five
/ American WarShiDS Including O