Evening star., 1951-03-11
.Yanks SMASHING
Al Chinese Red
Line
Defenses 5 Miles
Deep Protect Key
Enemy Positions
BY the Assoeioted Press

TOKYO, Sunday, March IL
Three American divisions today
pushed close to a Chinese Red
fortified line, 10 miles long and
5 miles deep, defending the key
enemy position in Central Korea.
The Communists rushed in re-
serves to replace losses of 10000
in four days.
The enemy defense line ex-
tended from a mountainous area
south Of Hongchon, Red Army
headquarters, west for 10 miles
to the Pukhan river.
The United States 1st Marine
Division, moving methodically over
ridges within 8 miles of Hongchon,
rammed for the first time into
the Chinese 298th Division.
Officers said this was the only
reserve division of the Chinese
Goth Army which has headquar-
ters at Hongchon. It's other two
divisions already were in the line.
Operating west of the Marines,
the United States 1st Cavalry and
24th Divisions neared defenses in
depth still being hastily fortified
by the Reds.
In Western Korea, the United
States 25th Division expanded its
bridgehead north of the Han
River.
Reds Losses Mount.
Flame-throwing tanks in the
bridgehead poured a fiery death
on Reds hiding in caves. Other
Reds who chose flight were moved
down by machinegun crews.
The United States 9th Army
estimated today that 1888 Reds
were killed or wounded in ground
action across Korea yesterday. It
earlier listed enemy casualties for
the previous three days at more
than $4,000.
Red losses mounted in all sec
tors OF a 70-mile front where the
United Nations divisions were
carrying the fight to the enemy.
A field dispatch today from
east-central Korea-the trackless
mountain area east of Hoengsone
said the United States End
Division has closed q trap on an
undetermined number Of Commu-
nists. This was accomplished by
seizure of dominating terrain 6
miles northeast of Hoengsong.
Eighteen miles east of Hoeng-
song. the United States 7th Divi-
sion stormed Mt. Taemi, a height
OF more than 5000 feet. One thou
sand North Koreans resisted the
Americans from rock emplace-
ments and dugouts studding the
sides of the height.
The outcome still was in doubt.
The doughboys fought with bay
onets and hand grenades UP MT.
Taemi Friday, only to be forced
back Friday night.
Big Battle Brewing.
But the big battle appeared to
be brewing before Hongchon. That
highway hub and enemy assembly
center is SIS miles east of Seoul.
The 1st Marines driving up the
road north from Hoengsong and
the 1st Cavalry moving northeast
up the road from Yongdu both
were reported about 8 miles from
Hongchon.
Eighth Army headquarters said
the 1st Cavalry had run into mine
fields as the troops approached
enemy positions in depth on both
sides OF the Yongdu- Hongchon
road.
United States oath Division
troops on the 1st Cavalry's left
tWeso flank also neared the forti-
fed line.
Air observers reported the Reds
were busy building new fortifica-
tlonS along the Hongchon River
which skirts the southern edge of
the city of the same name.
Defenses Flank Road.
These would extend the depth
OF the Notifications to more than
. miles. The Reds are known to
have prepared them on both sides
OF the Yongdu-Hongchon road be-
ginning at Yangdogwan. That
town. 8 miles southwest of Hong
chon, is the approximate frontal
position of the 1st Cavalry.
Far East Air Force planes went
out today in support of the Allied
offensive after pummeling enemv
communications with $50 sorties.
Despite unfavorable weather
United States 5th Air Force
planes last week flew more than
$3.50 sorties. the biggest such
week of the war.
Stunned by an intense artillery
barrage which preceded last
weeks crossing of the Han east
OF Red-held Seoul, the enemy
still had not recovered sufficiently
there to put up a hard fighS.
The 25th Division troops were