Evening star., 1950-12-07
Defense Line Drawn
In Rugged Terrain
North Of Parallel g
By Russell Brines
Assoeioted Press Foreign Correspondent

TOKYO, Dec. ALLIED forces
will try to stop the Chinese Com
munist drive in Northwest Korea
with a stand north of the 38th
Parallel in the broken hills and
valleys below fallen Pyongyang.
This was announced today by
Gen. MacArthur's spokesman in
an unprecedented advance iden-
tification of Allied positions.
He said United Nations forces
are digging in along line run
ming west from Koksan. SO miles
north of Parallel 38. to the vicinity
OF Chinnampo, Pyongyang's port
on the Yellow Sea.
This is an area 10 miles wide
that embraces the main highways
and the railroad leading toward
Seoul.
For days Allied forces have been
hurrying across those roads in the
mammoth retreat forced by the
tide of thousands of Chinese
Communists.
Positions Not Pinpointed.
When Pyongyang was evacu-
ated, Allied field commanders said
their troops were taking up de-
fensive positions south of the city.
They did not pinpoint them.
1t had been expected that some
sort of a stand would be made in
North Korea, if for no other rea-
son than to safeguard the con-
tinuing withdrawal of the main
Allied forces.
There has been yet no indica-
ton of any political decision that
would make any difference
whether the first fight occurred
north or south of 38. That myth
cal boundary, Gen. Macarthur has
said, has not been any barrier to
Allied military action.
Best Terrain Is Near Line.
But the best natural terrain for
defense lies in the more rugged
mountains crouching along the
parallel itself. The North Ko-
reans on their autumn retreat
fought from-or in some cases
abandoned-defensive positions 25
miles deep on their side of the
parallel. These intrenchments re-
main and presumably could be re-
occupied.
Lesser defensive works were dug
by the South Koreans below SO
during the uneasy peace preced-
ing this conflict.
A second and more formidable
stand NAV be made in that area.
How effective the Koksan- Chin
nampo line is intended to be has
not been made clear. It is ap-
parent. however, that it will not
be a continuous defense position
nor will it be solidly manned
across its 70-mile width.
Dug-in doughboys, however,
could inflict heavy losses on the
Chinese and may be able to delay
their advance toward Seoul.
Their purpose evidently is to do
this, then fall back themselves if
the pressure becomes too strong.
There is no indication yet that
this will become the formidable |
wall that men in the field, as well I
as those at home, are looking for /
to stem the Red waves.
Except for action at Koksan
against what officials say are Red
guerrillas, the Communists ap-
parently have not yet encountered
the new American positions.
New Red Push Expected.
The main body of the Chinese,
travelling afoot and fording rivers,
appears to be still working its way
slowly south of Pyongyang. No
one in the field doubts that an
other Red offensive will be made
as soon as strength has been built
up for it.
That raises the question of why
the Macarthur spokesman iden-
titled American positions. Core
spondents who knew about the
new line had withheld the story
for security reasons, since defen-
sive positions ordinarily are not
located until the enemy makes
contact.