Evening star., 1950-12-25
Successful Evacuation Preceded
By Bitterly Fought Retreat

IBA& \S&H SAA D
munist attack intensified swiftly.
The wedge driven into South Ko-
rean forces in Central Korea
widened. In the process the U. N.
line was compressed from 80 miles
to 80.
With the collapse of ROK ele-
ments, the 9Th Army'S right flank
was turned, and five Chinese regi-
ments poured down the corridor.
Encirclement threatened the en-
tire 9th Army.
BY now it was alarmingly evil
dent that the Chinese were pres
ent in force. This conclusion was
confirmed November 80 when the
10th Corps announced that an
estimated 10000 Chinese also had
appeared in the northeast trap
ping the Allied Changjin units.
BY December l the 9Th Army
had withdrawn across the Chong-
chon and was established in new
positions. A hull provided time for
conjecture: How did so many
Chinese get there, unknown to
U. N. intelligence? just how nu-
merous were they. and what were
their ultimate intentions?
Thus began the second stage,
the phase of shock.
Estimate Increased.
Gen. Macarthur said on De-
cember 2 there were about 500
900 Chinese troops in Korea. In
less than a week he increased his
estimate to more than l million
either in Korea or readily avail
able across the Yalu.
BY December the Allies were
pulling out of Pyongyang. former
North Korean capital. Two days
later the 9th Army. excepting pa
trolls, was below the 38th Parallel.
A new defense in depth" was es-
tablished somewhere between
Seoul and the 38th. Seoul is 80
miles south of the Parallel-and
165 miles south of Pyongyang. The
Allies had retreated more than 100
miles in less than two weeks.
Gen. J. Lawton Collins, United
States Army Chief of Staff, said
after visiting the front: Il think
the 9th Army can take care of
ITSELF"
Retreat had been ordered in the
northeast also, and here the traps
could not be eluded
Gen. Almonds 10th Corps wa
spread over $4,000 square miles
of Northeast Korea. The 18th
Regiment at Hyesanjin, on the
Yalu, and ROK Capital Division
troops, now only 40 miles from
Siberia, were cut off and far from
help.
The critical northeast situation
was in the Changjin area. There
$4,000 Marines mad infantrymen
spent IL desperate days breaking
out to Hamhung, so miles south
of the reservoir.
Marines on the west side of
the lake gave up Yudam on De-
cember 2, and fought slowly .or
6 miles to within 4 miles of
Hagaru. A fresh 7th Division
regiment, sent up from Hamfung
to break road blocks in the Chang
jim area. ran into strong resistance.
NJ, r;n~c p;n~aI noxxp
Marines on the east side Of the
reservoir were pinned down.
After a five-day blood bath, in
which an estimated 5000 Reds
were killed. the first Marine and
infantry elements from both sides
of the reservoir jammed their
way through to Hagaru on Oecem-
ber 4.
There they joined other Marines,
100 British Marine commaados
and the 7th Divisions 3lst and
32d United States Infantry Regi-
ments. which had fought fierce
delaying actions. U. N. casualties
were heavy. from enemy fire and
from temperatures as low as 81
degrees below zero. They reported
killing Chinese by the thousands.
by blocking counterattacks and
-ordinated fire and movement" :"
said Gen. Almond, "the Marines
hurled back the enemy, inf1icting
heavy losses"
Then came the second step in
the breakout-8 miles of torture
from Hagaru to Koto, in bitter
cold, and against the raking fire
of Chinese Reds on high points
along the route. This bloody jour-
ney took Is hours.
In Koto they joined other Ma
rines and infantrymen. caught in
another Red trap. Surrounding
them, reported Associated Press
Correspondent Tom Stone, were
Overwhelming forces of a deter
mined enemy" Between them and
the escape port of Hungnam lay
As miles of narrow. frozen noun
tain road, lined with waiting Chi
neSe.
March Out of KotO.
The march out of Koto began
December 3.
At Pohu bridge was blown by
the enemy. 1t had to be rebuilt
before the troops could resume the
final 80 hazardous miles on the
final leg of the escape.
Rolling YEARLY past United
States Sd Division units sent out