Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1951-06-01
Reds Defend
Massiing Area
BY olen Clements

communists bolstered defenses to-
day IN ridge lines guarding their
vital massing area in Red Korea.
An Allied tank patrol rumbled
back into Yanggu at the eastern
end OF Hwachon Reservoir on the
eastern front Friday noon for the
second straight day. 1t had fought
its way in Thursday. Friday it met
no opposition.
Communist troops bitterly op-
posed Allied patrols along the 125-
mile Korean front except at the
two ends of Hwachon Reservoir.
Gains up to two miles were re-
ported near Hawchon.
On the western front, an Ameri-
can staff officer said Chinese
appeared TO be diggin in to re-
sist any further Allied advance
toward the Chorwon- X umhwa-
Pyonggang supply triangle"
Reds streamed into new po-
sitions north of the 18th parallel
to defend the concentration area,
starting point of their ill-fated
spring offensives. They filtered
into new positions by groups of
SO to 500. Some dragged new ar
tillery pieces through the mud and
set them up facing u. N. positions.
An American officer said the
artillery movement may indicate
the Reds plan new attacks in an
effort TO break up the U. N.
counter-offensive. One purpose of
the big Allied drive was to try
to touch off Red infantry at
tack prematurely.
A United Nations tank patrol
fought its way north of Yon-
chon on the road TO Chorwon.
communist bastion in the west.
Tank traps and artillery halted
other armored units. And a horn
cts nest of Chinese resistance in
the hills tied up American in
fantry in dozens of small but in
tense day-long fights.
Across the broad central ap-
proaches to KumhWa, u. N, forces
held their ground against Red
attacks, pulled back slightly or
slogged a short distance forward.
i Allied units generally were held
close to the 38th parallel.
South of 38 Korean Reds drove
south Koreans nearly a mile at
one spot on the Hyon-Inje Road.
In the air three more Russian
type jets were shot down. This
brought to six the number re-
ported destroyed in "a hours BY
Swift American F-86 Sabre jets
and a B-29 superfort One air
fight flared near Pyongyang,
north Korean capital and far
south of the traditional jet bat
tie scenes.
Two American planes and F-ou
Jet and an F-51 Mustang crashed
and burned Friday afternoon be-
hind Red lines. The Fifth. Air
Force said the pilots could not
have survived. 1t did not say
whether they were downed by air
or ground firc.
The Pyongyang radio said four
Allied Grumman fighters were
shot down over Hamburg on the
east coast. There was no such re-
port from u. N. sources.
American seaborne air bases
were augmented by the arrival
of the big u. S. carrier Bon
Homme Richard. She sent her
fighters over Korea Thursday for
the first time. Pilots reported ex-
cellent results in hitting Red-held
ridges near Hwachon.
Red China came out with
Frank admission that communist
troops need more and better sup
plies. Peiping radio quoted a re-
turning communist delegation as
saying Red troops need more
planes, tanks, guns, antiaircraft
guns, antitank guns. trucks" food
and "all kinds of modern medi-
cines.'
Red troops were helped by
spring rains. Korea's poor roads
were difficult for u. N. armored
and motorized forces to navigate,
Streams were swollen. Bridges
were washed out. Troops were
soaked. Supplying them was ma
ior problem for both sides. An
air drop had to be made to Ameri-
can troops pounding at Yanggu
through mud, sometimes knee
deep.
No progress was reported for
other Allied units trying to hack
their way north Of InJe between
hills infested with communists.
In the far west u. N. troops
punched across the Imjim River
and carved out beachhead north
of Choksong, just south OF 5S-
ANNOUNCE BIRTH
Cpl. and Mrs Robert r. Mathis
of i016 Belmont Circle, Fayette'
-. ~r.1 ra~a1tno anYnIlncf