Evening star., 1950-08-27
U. n. Taegu Victory
Marks Passing Of
Major Defense Crisis
Bv Don Huth
Assoeioted Press Wur Correspondents

TIERS IN KOREA, Aug. 26.-I
United Nations fighting forces in
Korea have successfully passed
what may be their last major
crisis in the battle against the
Korean Reds.
The defensive victory of Amer
lean and South Korean forces
over the Reds plunging south
ward toward the strategic city
of Taegu may mark the final crit
ical test by Allied units before
their war machine shifts into its
offensive gear.
There are likely to be more
defensive battles to fight to keep
American and South Korean
lines stable. There may be short
Withdrawals to strengthen the
perimeter if Red pressure is ex-
erted on any sector.
The Taegu triumph, which
stopped the Reds cold after they
had pushed within IL miles of
the city. dealt the North Koreans
their third serious blow in as
many weeks.
1t is one of the significant turn
ing points of the war.
1t has won more valuable time
for the United Nations to add to
their growing forces. It has
blocked the North Koreans at
sector of the line where they had
massed their greatest troop con-
centration for a determined drive
to crack the Allied wall.
The fire department" phase
when United Nations troops
rushed from spot to spot along
the front-may be over before the
Reds can mount anpther break
through attempt.
Won Breathing Space.
The breathing space the defense
has won may allow time to
stengthen the American and South
Korean lines sufficiently to spike
any further Red thrust before it
gets rolling without weakening
any sector.
Three important North Korean
attempts to breach the present
line have been made since the de-
tenders completed their with
drawal behind the winding Max
tong River August 4:
/. The Reds swept easily down
the West coast, then wheeled
eastward and plunged within 40
miles of the main American supply
base of Pusan. A limited often
sive" by the 35th Regiment of the
United States oath Infantry Divi-
sion, the 5th Regimental Com
bat Team from Hawaii, and ele-
ments of the 1st Marine Division
drove to high ground four miles
east Of Chinju and then Withdrew
to original positions west Of
Masan.
The drive blunted the Red
southern attack and eased the
pressure on Pusan.
2. The Reds crack Fourth Di-
vision established major bridge
head across the Naktong south
west of Taegu near Changnyong.
The battered American Gath Di-
vision counterattacked, but the
bridgehead grew. The oath and
the Marines, led by Pershing
tanks, mounted a Joint offensive
that chewed up the North Ko-
rean Fourth Division and sent
remnants of it fleeing westward
across the river.
3. Five North Korean divisions
were concentrated for the Taegu
drive north and east of Waegwan
which served as a lock holding
the door Of the Allied defense lines
together. The Reds tried to shat
ter the door northeast of Waeg-
wan. Three enemy divisions-the
18th, 13th and 3rd-were badly
mauled in the seven-day battle
and withdrew.
These defensive victories have
been augmented by lesser but
Slgnlncant ones.
River Crossings Repulsed.
Since it's withdrawal behind the
NakJong, the United States First
Cavalry has snuffed out North Ko-
rean attempts to cross the river
in the central sector of the line.
South Korean units have
checked the Communist spear
heads aimed at Yongchon on the
northern front. Along the east
coast the North Koreans have
been. pushed back from Pohang
and Kigye, leaving the Allied air
field southeast Of Pohang secure.
The airf1eld, abandoned when
the Reds drove within artillery
range, still is not being used as
an operational base.
All these successes have enabled