The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-08-10
7 FRONTS,
HOWEVER
MENACED
Various 1hrusfs Reported
on Both Sides Bridge
head Battle Is on
(By the Associated Press)

TWO columns OF Americans closed
a trap on at least 1000 Korean Red
troops today in a strong drive
which carried them within five
miles of the Communist southern
base at Chinju But the Communists
made menacing mnges on two other
fronts.
While the southern offensive of
the Americans shot patrols to within
two miles of Chinju, the Commun-
lists exploded into action on sector
where they had been stalled for
some time. and menaced Pohang,
the US. air and sea base on the
east coast. Gen. MacArthur's sum-
mary said, however. the two pronged
drive by regulars and guerrillas APP
peared to have been halted by strong
South Korean opposition eight miles
west of Pohang.
Reds Exert Pressure
The North Korean Reds also
exerted heavy pressure on South
Korean troops about 80 miles north
of the us. road-rail base at
Taegu. The Communist concen-
trated their push in the vicinity
OF Uisong, west of Red-held Yong
dok. South Koreans were counter
attacking.
The headlong Communist retreat
in the southern sector of Korea was
described as I'm the nature OF .
rout."
Bridgehead Battle
To the north in the bridgehead
battle along the Naktong river, us.
First Cavalry Division troops fin
ished wiping out Red bridgehead.
and counted 300 Communist dead
and 20 captured. But the US.
Eighth Army reported Red pressure
was building up farther North. The
US. Oath Division was fighting new
Communist thrusts along Naktong
bridgehead to the south.
New Serious Threat
A serious threat developed in the
far northeastern end of the 140-
mile battlefront. Just below Yong
dok. recaptured by the Reds, two
Communist pincers drove south
against crumbling South Korean
opposition. They were attempting to
destroy main American fighter
plane base eight miles southeast of
Pohang
Mustang pilots at the base said
the enemy was only 51s miles from
the end of the airstrip Four Mus
tangs were lost during the day de-
Tending the strip.
Counter Measures
Vigorous countermeasures were
under way to contain the new
thrust which burst xrotd two sides.
The, Communists. driven back in
the south and held on the Naktong,
had been expected to launch some
sort of drive in the north and north
east where they have been main
tanning heavy pressure ON South
Korean troops. With civilian-led
guerrillas. they thrust out both from
Yongdok and captured mountain
village only nine miles from Po-
hang, American sea and air base
rs miles south of Yongdok
Stand to Death
The North Koreans apparently
ordered their Sixth Division to
stand to death against the Ameri-
can southern offensive while they
diverted units of their First Division
north to the Naktong bridgeheads
To the north two elements of the
US. First Cavalry Division con-
tanned or isolated two small Red
bridgeheads across the river. Still
farther north on the river 900 enemy
dead were counted after South Ko-
reans drove another Red force back
across the river The Reds own
artillery fire was reported turned on
them to make them fight ahead.
Walkers Gamble
A gamble by the US. 9Th Army
Commander, 1t. Gen. Walton H.
Walker, was paying off. In order to
launch the drive in the south he had
thinned out the Naktong river line,
and spread five South Korean Di-
visions across the northern front.
He concentrated power for the Of
fensive which drove the North Ko-
reans back to Chinju. and Pusan,
the main American supply base.
was safe again.
Hundreds of the Reds retreated
so fast toward Chinju that they
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