Evening star., 1953-01-30
9Th Army Defends
Operation Smack
Against Criticism
BY the Assoeiated Press

fully planned combat operation
Headquarters of the retiring
9th Army commander stepped
into the controversy raging over
last Sundays raider operation
with three-page statement.
It declared the criticism was
unfair to Allied fighting men.
The statement said that three
United States soldiers were killed
and 81 wounded in the opera
ton. It has been estimated that
$50 men of the United States
7th Division took part in the
E raid, which hit a western front
position known as Spud Hill.
Earlier the Army said the raid,
which aroused storm of criti-
ciSm in the United States Con-
gress. would win "only praise
when the full story is told.
However, there was some con-
fusion. Capt. Clair M. Wolfe of
Omaha, Nebr.. division public
information officer, said tonight
he still held that post. Earlier
he said he had been relieved.
"It was a mistake" he told
correspondents. "I was not re-
lieved. I am PIO of the 7th In
fantry Division and will be un-
til I rotate to Japan"
Headed Press COverage.
Capt. Wolfe was in charge of
press coverage of the raid on
Spud Hill. The Chinese stopped
the attack cold after weathering
an intensive aerial and artillery
pounding.
Congress still Simmered to-
day over suggestions that "Op-
Grafton Smack" was only a
show for top brass.
(Some Congressman said
bitter protests were pouring in
to their Offices from through
out the country.
(Gen. j. Lawton Collins,
Army chief of staff, is expect
ed to make an official explana-
ton after his return tomorrow
from Korea. He may appear
IN an open meeting next Tues
day of the House Armed
Service CommitteeO
Criticism developed over the
distribution of operational plans
of the raid to generals and news
correspondents invited to watch
the action. The plaza secret
document-had three color
cardboard cover and carried the
emblem of the 7th Division.
The United Nations command
in Tokyo said troops of the
United States 7th' Division car
ried out the planned attack in
co = ordination with artillery,
tanks and warplanes.
Invited generals and war cor
respondents watched while the
infantrymen, following up heavy
bombardment and fire. bomb at
tack on the hill, slugged to with
in IS yards of the crest, then
were stopped cold by deadly Red
crossfire and hand grenadeS.
Surprised at COmmOtiOn. z'
Maj. Gen. Wayne C. Smith,
the division commander, told
Associated Press Correspondent
Stan Carter today he was sur
prised at the commotion which
the operation created in the
United States.
Gen. Smith of Clarksville,
Tenn, said fewer American SOL
dierS were killed in the raid than
he had expected and that he con-
sidered the operation of tire
mendous value"
"A large number of bunkers
and caves were destroyed" he
said. "A number of enemy were
counted killed. A larger number
were estimated wounded. A lot
of valuable information was COL
lected about the terrain, traffic
ability of tanks, mass bombings
and use of air cover.
1--WE found our artillery sup
pressed their mortars completely
as well as the enemy's artillery
fire."
Gen. Smith did not list either
American or Communist casual
ties in his interview.
Gen. Smith said the raid was
never aimed at taking the hilE
1t was only a strong probe, he
said, to show the type of fighting
and casualties the United Ma
tions forces might face if they
launched an all-out frontal Of
fensive against dug-in Chinese
and Korean Communists.
About $50 troops made the
attack behind a barrage laid
down by massed artillery, Is
tanks and some 40 planes.
A United States 1st Corps
spokesman, who declined to be
named, said the prime mis-
sion" of the operation was that
Of capturing Chinese prisoners"
None was captured.
The spokesman added: when
the full story is told about the
carefully co-ordinated plans only
praise will be forthcoming for
this well-conceived operation.
Valuable Information.
THE observation of the actual
attack from points of vantage
along the front line provided
commanders at all levels with
valuable information on which to
base future combat operations.
"The effectiveness OF an attack
provides lessons for all con-
cerned."
Associated Press Correspond
ent Edwards said he watched
allied planes, artillery and tank
guns blast Spud Hill for hours,
turning it Into a volcano of
erupting explosions.
This was Operation Smack, !"
he said. a.. / knew why it had
been so named-Spud Hill was
getting Smacked and Smacked