The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-12-27
Logic Points
Toward Treaty
In Korean War
Communists Have Found
That A Major Attack
Did MOI Pay Off
eY John RANpoL pa

SEOUL. friday iR--Expirati0n
of the s0-day cease-fire line period
Thursday midnight 90 a. m. ESTl
raised the question: viii heavy
fighting break out again in Korea?
There is some evidence that it
viii not-at least moi right away.
There has been no large-scale
ground fighting in the past month.
The agreement on provisional
cease-fire line signed Nov. q said
nothing about stopping or starting
ground fighting.
Il simply said that if either the
Communists or the United Nations
took any new ground on either
side of the line, and if an armi-
stice was signed in 80 days, each
side would have to give up its
gains.
The agreement discouraged full.
scale fighting because no one wants
to fight and be killed for real
estate that has to be turned back
at the end of the month.
The agreement provided that aft.
er 80 days, each side would be able
TO keep any gains il made and held
until an armistice,
That might seem 10 throw the
door vide open for an offensive s
But that door has been half open
and there has been no serious fight
ing in the past month.
II became pretty obvious about
Dec. Is that with all the good will
in the world-which was lacking
there wasn't going to be any signed
sealed and delivered armiStice by
Dec. 81,
That made il seem practically
certain-harring a formal extern
sion of the trial period-that, sub
iect only to the fortunes Of war.
either side could keep any gains
il made.
All during this time the war in
the air was going full blast, but
on the ground front there were
only harassing artillery fire clash
es by rowing patrols, U n, prisoner
raids and Communists probes,
That is one reason why il appears
that neither side plans any larges
scale offensive Immediately. Since
mid December both had a good
opportunity to attack and keep their
gains. Neither chose TO do so
There have been no major of,
fenSives in Korea since late last
spring. From last July on there
has been positive decline in all
wide scale action, despite several
severe local fights such as Heart
break Ridge and Little Gibraltar.
This lack of major fighting has
given both sides a chance to build
up as never before. II has been
conceded for months that the Reds
should have been able TO start a
major attack al any time
In their last try the Reds found
a major attack did not pay
The Chinese hit the western front
with all they had last April in an
open try al decisive break
through. They massed from 80 10
40 divisions on the western front
alone.
Even with all thai force the Reds
found they could not take Seoul
Another big push with about 20
divisions failed on the central front
in May. Since then, the Reds have
done little except counter-attaek
limited objective attacks.
Perhaps the best reason for,
thinking that no new big war;
viii start up again is the fact
that neither side has any real hope
of gain any more
In IS months Of war rival armies
have showed each other back and
forth on a i00,miIe football grid
lron--with neither able TO score
II has cost a lot of blood and
treasure. But each side has proved
its point The Communists. that
we can't march to the Yalu with
our present forces: the II. N. that
South Korea with theirs. 4
There may be more savage fights
ing and small advances and res
treats But logic points toward an
eventual armistice.