Evening star., 1950-07-12

still is as strong as it was when
it drove across the Han River al
Seoul. It reorganizes, and re-
groups in the dark, the general
said. having found it improbable
to do SO during the day" because
Of heavy Allied air attacks.
This indicates the attackers
have built their forces back to at
least five divisions-perhapS rs, 900
men.
Planes Pound Reds.
American and Australian air.
craft pounded targets with excel
lent results" Far East Air Force
communique said. The Allied
J fighters destroyed six tanks for
a two-day total of As. I
i B-29 superforts of the goth Air
Force blasted Chinchon, near the
front and t'the whole town was
left burning after the STRIKE" the
communique said.
Enemy aircraft appeared for the
first time in more than a week.
Two Russian-made Yak fighters
fired three brusts at an American
F-80 jet which was returning to
base without enough fuel or am
munition to fight back. The
American plane took evasive ac-
ton and was not hit.
In fact, all Allied planes re-
turned to base without loss or
injury to personnel. -
+ The communique said enemy
anti-aircraft fire was up slightly"
from the average of the last few
days. but scored no hit.
Pusan Threat Reported.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian
correspondents claimed that North
Korean forces have advanced al
most to Pusan, the main Ameri-
can supply port on the southeast
coast Of Korea.
(Gen. Macarthur has report
ed several amphibiouS landings.
/ by the Communist invaders on
the east coast of South Korea,
including one attempt last week
at Pohang. 80 miles north of
Pusan. but there has been no Of
f1cial word from American forces
of any serious threat to the
supply port.) \,
The Literary Gazette published
the report in a dispatch from its
correspondents in Pyongyang.
The dispatch said North Korean
naval landing parties had been put
ashore in force along the eastern
coast and had advanced almost
to Pusan itself"
The dispatch also claimed re-
volts had broken out in the most
southern extremity" Of the Korean
peninsula. 4-~
Drive Begins in Midmorning.
The Communists began their
assault on Chochiwon, 8 air miles
north of the Kun River, in mid
morning. departure from their
usual dawn offensive, Tom Lam
bert, Associated Press correspond
fent with American forces In Ko-
rea reported.
"The remainder of the Red at
tack was in the now familiar and
deadly pattern-hanking and in
filtration. The Reds inflltrated
heavily along the left flank of
the American positions, exposing
the city to attack.
1.-The Northern invaders opened
up with mortars and artillery.
Their shells walked down the
highway leading into Chochiwon
just ahead of the Nd infantry.
by 1870 pm. CfSo pm. EDIT,
Tuesday,, they hadshe city. 20 air
miles north of tbs 10y center Of
Taejon, under blistering fire.
THE Reds hanked one major
American unit command post and
shelled it from the city.
American vehicles pulled out
for the south and the Kun. Soon
they mingled with refugees clog
ging the roads. These South Ko-
rean civilians had taken to the
roads earlier in the morning, ap-
parently sensing another Commu-
mist thrust.
American ground forces thus
went into their second week of
the Korean war as they began it
-retreating. Their casualties in
the Chochiwon battle were not
disclosed. Presumably they were
heavy.
! Reports from the battle line
said the Reds again were using
the Russian-built tanks which
spearheaded their invasion of
South Korea, shattered the South
Korean army in the first shock
of battle, and forced the Ameri-
cans steadily back in a gamely
fought delaying action.
Day Opens Quietly.
"Chochiwon was deadly silent
this morning. Only a few Ko-
reans walked its empty streets.
"On the main street one mud
and wood building was f1attened
as if by giants heel.
From the north came an oc-
casional rumble of artillery fire.
mostly, American guns belching.
Then the Red guns opened up.
Soon mortar shells were dropping
at the northern edge of the city,
sending great fountains of red
clay dust into the air.
"A machinegun chartered.
"A jeep roared down the lonely
north road into the city. tailed by
a growing funnel of dust. Across
the back of the bounding machine
a badly wounded man lay on a
litter. d
1.-THE mortar shells came closer.
I'm a short time they were
slammng into the city. An off,
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