Evening star., 1951-01-05
4Cut-0H Divisions
Reach u. N. Lines
After Savage Battle
By Ston Swinton
Assoeioted Press War Correspondent,

WONJU, Korea. Jan. 5.-FourI
cutoff South Korean divisions
have broken through Communist
roadblocks to reach the safety of
U. N. lines north of threatened
Wonju.
The last weary column of half
frozen Republic of Korea in
fantrymen got through Thurs
day, it can now be revealed.
Their escape climaxed a savage
four-day battle. 1t began when
the reorganized North Korean
18th Division slipped in from the
northeast. The Reds straddled
the two ROK supply and with
drawal routes leading south from
Honkchon, approximately % miles
north of Wonju.
With the South Koreans safely
back, heavily outnumbered Ameri-
can, French and Dutch troops
today pulled their lines back
closer to Wonju.
The danger of encirclement by
the four North Korean divisions
pushing south to the East and
West of this U. N. force precip-
itated today's withdrawal. Field
intelligence officers said the Reds
are already nearly parallel to
Wonju on one flank.
Seven Armies Coming.
Gen. Macarthur headquarters
has said that seven Communist
armies-probably about 10000
men-are swarming south from
the Chunchon area toward
Wonju.
The bleak ruins of Wonju are
essential to Communist plans be-
cause this is the only important
highway center in east central
Korea. The roads are icy and bad
but they spider-web in all direc-
tions.
American officers here at the
front profess ignorance of the
seven Red armies which Gen.
MacArthur's headquarters report
are moving down on them. Only
such higher headquarters have
the big strategic picture of enemy
plans. What Wonju'S defenders |
know is they are faced by -four
well equipped, well fed North Ko-
rean divisions"
1--WE have pretty we'll destroyed
their 18th Division, but the other
three still are intact. One of
them is an old friend we fought
down on the Naktong last sum-
mer-the 10TH" said one senior
staff officer.
Pressure Greater.
Pressure is intensified against
us very much" he added. Its
the old story. They have massed
their power. However, they are
not fighting as well or as ten
aciously as they did last year."
The scope of today's Red ac-
ton was typical. The Commu-
nists hit ore regiment, overran a
company and then were slammed
to a halt. Apparently the Reds !
are postponing any major local
offensive until they are fully posi- /
toned. i
Fifteen miles below Wonju the
roads are jammed with tens of
thousands of civilians desperately
fleeing the battle zone.
The railroad leading north from
Taegu was cut temporarily this
week near Wonju about 60 miles
north of Taegu. The railway had
been an essential link since icy
roads slowed highway traffic.
When local conditions dictated,
numbering C-119 Flying Boxcars
came to the rescue. Hundreds of
tons of fuel, food and supplies
were air-dropped. Although the
railroad is reopened, drops con-
tinued every few minutes today.
Red, yellow and blue supply para
chutes were splashes of rich color
against the snowy valley flats.
Landing Strip Is Risky.
Dozens of CATS got through .
the raw, wrinkled mountains ring
ing Womb to come down on the
risky short landing strip bull
dozed out of frozen rice paddles.
The spotlight of war focused
on Womb after the Chinese and
North Koreans broke through two
u. N. divisions east of Seoul early
this week. The breakthrough ex-
posed Scouts flank and resulted in
the precipitous order to evacuate
South Korea's capital.
One division the Reds put
through was virtually destroyed. |