Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-15
New Red Troops
in On
~
East Korea Line
U. N. Tank Columns
Meet Resistance
On Central Front
BY III. Associated Press

i -
| TOKYO, June 15.-Large num-
bers OF fresh Red troops were re-
ported digging in today on the
rain-swept ridges of Eastern
Korea.
Reds battled United Nations
tank columns on the central front,
but vanished completely in the
West.
Allied tank columns rumbled up
two roads toward Kumsong, new
Chinese base in the center. One
patrol moved through a mountain
pass TO the Chupa area. 9 miles
south of Kumsong. 1t met only
sporadic fire. Another tank patrol
clanked out Of Kumhwa, II miles
west of Chupa, blasting at deter
mined Chinese along a ridge route
U. N. fighter-bombers slipped
through rain clouds to aid the
drive toward Kumsong. Pilots re-
ported they caught a large
group of Reds on the open banks
of the Kumsong river Just before
dusk. They said they got "excel-
lent coverage" with their bomb
strikes.
Mortars Blast Allied Line.
To the southeast, North
Koreans showered the Allied line
with mortar fire. Associated Press
Correspondent George A. Nc
Arthur reported.
"The Reds are digging in." a
U. N. officer said. trying to estab-
lish a defense line"
In the Yanggu-Inje area Red
artillery sometimes set the hills
ringing with continuous explo-
sions, Mr.. Macarthur reported.
U. N. artillery replied by pound
ing the new defense line the Reds
were apparently constructing
north Of Allied positions.
Three battalions digging in on
single hill north of Yanggu were
blasted by Allied guns,
U. N. foot troops Strengthened
their lines and probed Red posi-
lions all along the east. North
of Inje the Allies pushed about a
mile through intense fire. Officers
said the fire appeared to be a de-
laying action TO give other Reds
time to dig in.
Patrols Push 4 Miles.
Along the Western front Allied
patrols pushed 4 miles out in front
of U. N. lines without running into
stable Communist forces. Asso-
Iciated Press Correspondent Stan
Carter said. "all indications were
that the main body of Reds had
withdrawn many miles to the
north Of U. N. lines"
The United States 9Th Army
said patrols operating through the
fallen Kumhwa-C horwon- Pyong-
gang Iron Triangle" made only
light enemy contact.
The dormant Red air force
showed signs of life. Two planes
struck far behind U. N. lines in
their deepest penetration in
months.
The two Red air strikes yester-
day morning were by propeller
type craft. One plane bombed
and strafed an Allied air field at
Suwon, Is miles south of Seoul.
Another raided Yongdongpo, a
suburb of the old South Korean
capital.
U. N. Planes Strike Back.
U. N. air. forces struck back
promptly. They hit three Red air.
fields in Western Korea. Far East
Air Forces reported runways at
Sunan and Sunchon were post
holed by bombs" Sariwon was
c-1bed at night.
Rain clouds restricted air activ-
ity over Korea today.
Just how far Allied commanders
intend to send their ground troops
inside North Korea in their pres
ent drive was puzzling. Both the
United States 9th Army and gen.
eral headquarters communicates
this morning mentioned only pa
trolls going beyond present lines.
They have pushed two spear
heads roughly 80 miles north of
the 38th Parallel-through the
steep hills of the east coast be-
yond Kansong, and up a fertile
western valley through Pyonggang.