Evening star., 1951-12-01
Shooting
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planation that the Associated
Press had reported fully the con-
f1icting aspects of developments
in Korea.
Mr.. Shorts contention that
this statement was designed to
confuse the American people
alters none of the facts which
the A. P. reported and the record
speaks for ITSELF" the news serv-
ice said yesterday.
Cites Secret Letter.
Reading from the Hull report,
Mr.. Short said:
! ON November q the 9th army
issued a secret letter of instruc-
tions to subordinate commands
which contained the following
statement:
| steps will be initiated to in
sure that every United States,
United Nations and Republic of
Korea soldier is lully coenizant
/ that hostilities Will continue until
the signing Of the armistice
agreement
The United States Corps and
the 1st ROK Corps have issued
orders containing similar instruc-
ton. The commanding general
9th Army, reports that no instruc-
tions have been issued from the
9th Army or any of his corps
headquarters as far as he knows
to the effect that there is any
such thing as a cease fire at this
time. The reports in question ap-
parently emanated from battalion
or company, or possible platoon
level"
| After MIR. Short had read from
the secret letter of instructions
from the 9th Army, he was asked
if there were not another Sec
ton containing instructions as tc
what to do in case of cease fire
The secretary said he was not 60
ing into that.
| Mr.. Short referred to a portion
of the Thursday A. P. statement
which said there lis no founda-
ton for suggesting pressure was
involved" in the Wednesday dis
patch.
| President Truman had said
Thursday that he understood the
story was the result of intense
competition for news.
/ The presidential secretary point
ed out that Mr.. Truman had not
used the word pressure" but hao
employed the term intense com.
petition
| Takes Issue on Words.
In the first A. P. story out of Key
West on the news conference. il
was reported that the President
had said pressure AP Reporter
Ernest B. Vaccaro told Mr.. Short
this word was used in the sense o1
pressure for news. The reporter
added that a subsequent lead sub.
stituted Mr.. Truman's term in
tense competition after a playback
of a recording of the conference.
Mr.. Short took issue with other
parts of the A. P. statement ans
the portion of the dispatch re.
Iferring to halt in ground fight.
ing. Mr.. Short said:
"On November % tKorean time)
SO ground patrols, ranging from
squad to platoon strength, oper-
ated across the front.
"On that same date. United
Nations combat units repulsed IA
separate enemy attacks ranging
from two-squad to regimental
strength.
Artillery exchanges on that
same date followed the normal
pattern.
"On November 20, 81 United
Nations patrols were sent out
across the front"
"Quibbling" Charged.
Mr.. Short said the A. P. was
"quibbling over words" in its
statement asserting it had not
reported a cease-f1re order had
been issued.
He asserted that the A. P. did
not say that a lull had developed
but that ground fighting had come
to a complete halt, which is nat
true" Mr.. Short asked the news
conference:
I'm a serious case, do you think
that some platoon or company
commander is qualified to say
what is going on over an entire
front?"
Associated Press dispatches, in
cluding the specific story by Mr..
Randolph. reported that ground
fighting in Korea on both sides
of the battle lines had halted as
a result of authoritative orders
or directions. The same situation
was reported by other news serv-
ices. newspaper and radio CORE
spondents.
From the front, a National
Broadcasting Co. correspondent
reported a recording tape of a
United Nations lieutenant telling
his men that there has been an
order for cease fire. There is
to be no firing except for self de-
fense or to defend the main line