Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-18
Big Red Bui|dup
Reported Along
kumsong Line
Tanks and Artillery
Support Infantry
In March South
BY the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
SEOUL, July 18.-ThouSandS
of Chinese infantrymen sup
ported by tanks and field guns
today swarmed recklessly south
ward in daylight as the Commu-
nists boldly beefed up troops
which smashed through the
Kumsong bulge this week
Even as allied air spoilers
watched Red infantry stream
across the Kumsong River, three
South Korean divisions moved
cautiously northward over ground
given up in the mighty Commu-
mist onslaught.
There was no indicat ion
whether the big Red buildup sig
naled new attacks or was a fran
tic effort to hold newly won
positions.
Heavy fighting broke out east
of the Kumsong bulge as the
Communists slammed about 1000
men against South Korean and
American positions on the east
ern front.
North Koreans Attack.
One North Korean regiment
about $500 men-Struck three
hill position northeast of the
Punchbowl, about Is miles east
of the bulge. in a co-ordinated
assault backed by 10000 rounds
of artillery and mortar fire, the
9th Army said.
In fierce three-hour fight, the
ROKs drove back the assault
force and killed or wounded an
estimated GIT Reds, the army
said.
Infantrymen of the United
States 45th Division smashed
back two 700-man Red attacks
near Christmas Hill.
Waves of allied planes strafed
and dive bombed the Red troops
as they openly crossed the Kun
song on bridges or forded the
river.
Heavy trucks rumbled through
the shallow water, apparently
oblivious to allied planes over
head.
The 5th Air Force said It's
fighter bombers hurled more
than 500 tons of high explosives
in 375 close support missions.
most of them over the tense
Kumsong front.
One South Korean unit said
As Russian-built T-34 tanks were
operating in it's area but Ameri-
can officers confirmed reports
the Communists have coucen-
trated more tanks in the Kum-
song bulge than in any one sec
tor for two years.
There were no indications the
Reds were willing to risk much
of their precious armor south
of the Kumsong, however.
ROKs Meet Opposition.
Associated Press Correspond
ent Forrest Edwards reported air
spoilers saw many tanks in the
open along the Kumong. but
there were few indications the
Reds had more than a token
force-if that-below the river
Meanwhile, the slow South
Korean northward push that has
regained up to 512 miles in three
days ran into its first stiff oppo-
sition.
Some 700 Chinese counter
attacked in the pre-dawn and
hurled back the ROKs from four
hill positions taken originally
against little resistance.
But by noon the South Ko-
reans won back two of the hills
and were aSSaulting the other
two.
Positions Regained.
The easing of tight military
censorship showed that:
Generally the South Koreans
have regained the line they were
supposed to have withdrawn to
earlier in the week before the
mighty 80,000-man Red assault
that Strengthened out the Kun
song bulge.
The ROKs, in the face of little
or no resistance, have moved
back about to the KumSong.
The ROKs were supposed to
have pulled back last Monday
to a line running east-west along
the 'Kumsong River just before
it flows into the Pukhan.
But IN the confusion of mas
Sive Communist onslaught, the
South Koreans fell back about
10 miles in Spots-flve more
miles than ordered. This is the
ground regained in the north
ward nuSh