Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-13
Reds Slipping Down
Valleys in Attempt
To Split Allied Lines
Continued From First Page

surge in Communist activity as
"A delayed reaction to our reach
ing the Han River. They but
toned up on their defense line
north of the Han and are sending
patrols down to heckle us. South
of the Han River they are trying
to hold where they still have
men,"
Communist shells whistled into
Allied positions along the Western
front. They were fired from clev-
erly camouflaged mortars and
field pieces north of the Han.
Allied artillery claimed three of
these Communist guns were de-
stroyed by pinpoint battery fire.
For the first time Red tanks
were reported moved in to bolster
the Communist defenses along the
north shore of the Han and inside
Seoul. Allied air claimed two
tanks destroyed.
Some of the tanks were British
that had been abandoned in pre-
vious action.
Local Fights Flare.
Southeast of the Han, savage
local fights fared.
Fresh Allied troops jumped off
early today and gained 2l2 miles
east of embattled Sansong. They
seized five important hills.
Inside the walled fortress of
Sansong-500-year-old refuge of
Korean kings southeast of Seoul
Allied foot soldiers failed for the
third day to wipe out a suicide
Chinese force. The Reds were dug
in on a mob just inside the messy
walls.
Allied mortars. artillery and air
strikes also failed to wipe out Reds
holding other positions on high
ridge line cutting northeast from
Sansong toward the Han.
Communist infantry attacked
and won a 369-foot hill S miles
southeast of Seoul and l mile
south of the Han after Red artil-
lery pounded Allied troops hold
ing it.
The Communists launched their
big push on the central front
after the Allies had made sweep
ing gains all along the front in a
limited" offensive that began
January 25.
The massed Red forces sprang
upon five Allied columns late
Sunday night in typical Com
munist-style attack. The shrill
blare of bugles and roll of drums
signaled the onslaught. The Reds
struck through snowy mountain
passes and valleys with elements
of three to six Chinese armies
and two Red Korean corps.
Confused, bitter fighting swirled
all day and night yesterday
throughout the Hoengsong area.
Finally two United States I'd Di-
vision battalions and a South Ko-
Irean regiment fought their way
out of the Communist trap north
of Hoengsong.
BY II am. today g pm. EST,
Monday. the hard-hit elements
of Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almonds
10th Corps had broken off ground
contact with the attacking Reds.
Associated Press War Correspond
ent John Randolph said at pm.
today (Monday midnight. EST g,
that there was a lull with both
sides regrouping for renewed fight
ing.
Inchon Positions Consolidated.
In the West. the United States
25th and Sd Divisions consolidated
their positions around the recap
tured port of Inchon, Scouts in
dustrial suburb of Yongdungpo
and the capitals big Kimpo air.
field.
But the powerful Communist
smash on the central front threat
ened the Allied position in the
West. A break-through at Womb
once again would imperil the re-
treat route for Western front di-
visions along the highway from
Seoul to Taegu and might force
them to withdraw.