Evening star., 1950-09-28
u. 5. May Hold Army
AT 3Sth Parallel, LET
Other u. n. Units Cross
By John A. Giles

|VIIlGI u. N. UnlISIIUSS
By John A. Giles
Administration officials were
taking the position today that it
may not be necessary for United
States forces to fight their way
across the 38th parallel to crush
the Red invaders.
Gen. Macarthur has the au-
thority to throw the full weight
of the United Nations troops un-
der his command into North Ko-
rea-if necessary to destroy the
Communist Army.
Officials here hope, however,
that the only task remaining in
North Korea will be mopping-
up operation to restore peace and
order which could be carried out
by South Korean troops or forces
of other U. N. members beside this
country. Pentagon sources said
there was no immediate evidence
OF large organized forces in Red
Korea and large portions of those
in the south appeared to be melt
ing into the civilian population. Z
Two Reasons Behind Stand.
There are two reasons why the
administration prefers to keep
United States forces out of North
Korea: ID to lessen the fear of
the Soviet Union that this coun-
try is seeking a base close to the
Siberian port of Vladivostok, and
CD to free American troops for
the defense buildup in Western
Europe.
At the Pentagon it was felt that
occupation and a complete mop
up of North Korea was essential,
that II 1t is not done the war
which is quickly coming to a close
in Korea will be started again
within few years.
There is a lot of mean, small
arms fighting yet to be done in
Korea" a high-ranking Army Of
f1cer said. THE Reds simply will
take off their uniforms, put on
civilian clothes and join the
civilian population. Only the
South Koreans will be able to help
the U. N. forces rout them.
No Estimate of Duration.
And you may have Red bandits
IN Korea for the next five years"
Military officials. analyzing both
officer and front-line press re-
ports, said there was no question
that the U. N. forces had put their
finger on the windpipe of the
North Korean forces with the
capture of the vital communica-
tlons center of Seoul, but they still
would not venture any estimate of
the duration of the fighting.
President Truman presumably
approved the essentially military
decision that Gen. Macarthur
should be authorized to send
troops across the border separat-
ing South and North Korea if
tnat is necessary to destroy the
Communist forces. Presumably
1t also was reviewed by other
u. N. members. ~.
Speed Was Taken.
Authorities here said it was
based on the Security Council's
June ~ resolution which called on
member nations to furnish aid to
south Korea ito repel the armed
attack and to resore international
peace and security in the area"
These informants saids the rea-
soning back of the decision was
that it would not be possible to re-
store international peace and Sc
curity in the area" until the
North Korean Red army was
crushed.
The speed with which the Mac
Arthur forces have been pushing
the invaders back-which sur
prised even the top military lead
ers here-was reported to have
been factor in splitting the 38th
parallel issue into two parts-and
immediate military one and a
long-range political one.
The decision on whether to sta
ton an army of occupation in
North Korea and to supervise the
setting up of a government there
still remains to be made oy the
U. NJ, authorities said. There
were indications that this country
preferred to leave this duty to
other U. N. troops and it was con-
sldered significant that the United
States redoubled its efforts to in
crease the size of those forces in
Korea just as the fighting in
South Korea was coming to a
speedy conclusion.