Evening star., 1951-05-05
u. n. Tank Units
Press Pursuit Of
Retreating Reds
Allied Forces Spar
For Opening, Take
Up Slack in Lines
BY the Associated Press

TOKYO, May 5.-United Ma
tions tank infantry columns
clanked into the Korean no-man's
land on the hunt for withdrawing
Red forces.
This isn't a general advance"
said spokesman at United States
9th Army headquarters. "but we're
sparring for an opening"
The armored columns struck
ahead on the western front for
the fourth consecutive day.
The Reds had pulled back on
the central front. They with
drew on smaller scale on the
western front.
Red Drive Willis.
The Red spring drive that be-
gan April % had wilted in it's
first stage. Now the United Ma
tlonS army was taking up slack
in the lines.
! Except for the British Glouces-
tershire Battalion which was
badly mauled, no Allied units suf-
ifered severely in the Red drive
that was stopped just short Of
Seoul.
The Chinese and Red Korean
forces suffered heavily, however.
1t. Gen. James A. Van Fleet, 9th
Army commander, estimated the
number of Red casualties in the
begged spring drive at about
10000. A daily compilation of
United Nations air and ground
forces communique tolls placed
the enemy dead and wounded at
around $4,000.
| Eighth Army staff officers re-
ported heavy Red troop move
ments in rear areas.
1 Field reports today listed $1,000
men and 500 horses north of
Chunchon on the Central front.
New Red Push Expected.
| Presence of mine fields on the
Western front north of Seoul also
indicated the Reds were planning
another drive.
One American officer said the
Chinese always lay "acres of mine
fields" to screen an area in which
they are massing for attack.
Associated Press Correspondent
Robert Eunson at 9th Army head
quarters reported the general be-
lief is that the next Red shove
won't come Immediately. When it
does, Army sources said, it will be
in the form of pressure on Seoul.
Mr.. Eunson said most military
men believe the Reds will need
more armor than they have dis
played up to the present to sweep
around behind Allied forces de-
Tending Seoul.
Chinese Reds offered no fight
as the U. N. line was pushed for
ward northeast of Seoul in the
region of the Pukhan River.
Foe Still Withdrawing.
Farther east of Seoul, in the
peninSula'S mountainous heart,
some Red forces still were with
drawing north of Chunchon out
of range of Allied artillery.
It was on this front, As miles
northeast of Seoul, that the Reds
have been expected to open the
second round after losing the first
round, aimed primarily at Seoul
itself.
| Strong U. N. patrols ranged
north into a no-man's land
searching for Reds. They found
about 1000 northwest of Seoul
yesterday and fought them until
nightfall. Then the patrols with
drew.
Allied tanks rumbled the II
miles north of Seoul into the high
way junction of Uijongbu against
negligible resistance. Apparently
the Allies could have Uijongbu if
they wanted it. The tanks pulled
back after looking around.
Ground Action Limited.
North of Kapyong, 80 miles
northeast of Seoul, B-26 light
bombers attacked concentration
of Reds. But north of Chunchon,
l3 miles farther northeast, Red
column which included 500 horses
was spotted in a withdrawal.
Seventy-five miles northeast Of
Seoul, where the Allied line
curves across the 38th Parallel
into North Korea, U. N. elements
attacked Red battalion east of
Inje.
Overall the ground action Fri
day was so limited in nature that
the 9th Army claim of casualties
inflicted on the Reds totaled only
755.
The Communist task of getting
supplies and reinforcements for
resumption of the offensive was
made difficult by Allied air blows.
The Far East Air Forces said
today their planes, during five
day period up to Friday, destroyed
or damaged 1900 railroad cars,
"a locomotives, 1.100 motor We
hicles and 5000 storage and bar
racks buildings.
E:S.L d.