Evening star., 1950-11-27
Collapse Of Drive
By Forces Of U. N.
Is Believed Near
Continued From First Page)

\SOIlGlIlueQ FTUm FISU SdSe.J
after giving up most of their
gains"
Reserve units of Americans,
British and Turks were rushed
up to bolster a sagging 30-mile
eastern section of the winding
80-mile front stretching inland
from the Yellow Sea. The front
runs from 40 to so miles south
of the Manchurian border.
An estimated 10000 Reds
most of them Chinese in quilted
winter uniforms-began the coun-
ter-assault last Saturday night.
Republic of Korea troops and
the United States I'd and 25th
Divisions bore the brunt of the
attacks, which continued with in
creasing fury last night.
Correspondent Left Erickson
said the American divisions
stopped the second night attacks
in the center of the line after
earlier withdrawals of several
miles.
Eastern Situation Unclear.
The situation on the Eastern
flank, manned by the ROK 7th,
9th and 9Th Divisions. was not
clear. Fighting Withdrawals of
4 to II miles in the ROK sector
were reported yesterday.
Field dispatches indicated heavy
Allied casualties. An indirect
censorship settled over operations
as security measure.
In Tokyo, Gen. MacArthur's
spokesman said the Chinese coun-
terblows were expected. He as
serted that the U. N. offensive,
which Gen. Macarthur hoped
would end the war by Christmas,
was halted temporarily but sis
continuing"
The spokesman described yes
terday's Withdrawals as limited
and added that, in any general ad-
vance. the foremost spearheads
can be expected to be pushed back.
That's what is happening now. he
said. But he refused to elaborate
on what was meant by limited
Withdrawals.
Correspondent Whitehead said
the reversal in battle fortunes
came with startling suddenness
and the 9th Army is battling to
hold the southwark surge of Red
troops"
There Is no chance of Often
sive action on this front until
the Red attack has been halted
and a firm new line established"
he added.
Reds Stiffen in Northeast.
Only in the northeast were
Allied advances reported. But Red
resistance in some sectors there
was stiffening.
From 9th Army headquarters,
Mr.. Erickson reported at least 10
Chinese Red divisions-number-
ing 5000 to 10000 men each
were estimated on the eastern
half Of the northwest front.
The Reds evidently were trying
to turn the entire right flank of
the 9th Army in the Tokchon
area. They wrested Tokchon
from the ROK 7th Division today.
The. Reds, moving with small
arms and mortar fire, penetrated
South Korean positions around
the rail and highway city in regi-
mental strength.
LIST Cavalry Rushed Forward.
An 9Th Army spokesman said
United States 1st Cavalry troops,
held in reserve since early No.
vember when another Red
counterattack rolled back the
northwest line, were rushed to
bolster the ROK 7th Division.
A pool dispatch. quoting 9th
Corps spokesman, said the mech
anized cavalry troopers were set
ting up roadblocks southwest of
Tokchon on the road to Sunchon.
Sunchon is about midway be-
tween Tokchon and Pyongyang,
the former Red capital which fell
to U. N. forces in October.
Also moving up to the dented
Allied line were the British 9th
Brigade and the Turkish Brigade.
There was no information as to
where these forces would be
thrown into the battle.
A 1st Corps spokesman an
nounced the oath Divisions with
drawal from Chongju. where the
division earlier had been reported
throwing up defensive positions
north and west of the city.
A Red cavalry unit was spotted
LOST.
BILLFOLD, blue. lost National Airport;