406
OBJECTIVE REACHED
This evening the Eighth Army statement reports that the 35th Regiment of the American task force operating in the south has occupied the high ground east of Chinju, which was the objective of the limited counter-attack launched on Monday. There are reports that Chinju is being evacuated. The Marines have simultaneously occupied the town of Kosong, 17 miles south-west of Masan, against strong North Korean resistance. Pockets of bypassed North Koreans are still giving trouble and are being steadily cleaned up.
This is some of the most encouraging news of the campaign to date, and shows that where numbers are not too desperate the American troops are more than a match for their opponents. It has to be seen, however, in relation to the complete picture.
The statement also reports that the North Korean bridgehead just north of Waegwan, which, although resolutely attacked and reduced in size by the South Korean 1st Division, was never finally liquidated, is again being expanded. The North Koreans have again brought tanks into the bridgehead, which American pilots today attacked with unknown results. The pilots report that the North Koreans have built a causeway of sandbags, across the river about 18in. under water (a favourite engineering practice of the Russians in the last war) which is difficult for aircraft to knock out.
In spite of continued American counter-attacking no progress has been made in reducing the North Korean bridgehead in the loop of the Naktong about 30 miles south of Waegwan. A delayed message from our Special Correspondent in Korea is on page 3.
406
OBJECTIVE REACHED
This evening the Eighth Army statement re- ports that the 35th Regiment of the American task force operating in the south has occupied the high ground east of Chinju, which was the objective of the limited counter-attack launched on Monday. There are reports that Chinju is being evacuated: The Marines have simul- taneously occupied the town of Kosong. 17 miles south-west of Masan, against strong North Korean resistance. Pockets of by- passed North Koreans are still giving trouble! and are being steadily cleaned up.
This is some of the most encouraging news of the campaign to date, and shows that where numbers are not too desperate the American troops are more than a match for their oppo- nents. It has to be seen, however, in relation to the complete picture.
The statement also reports that the North Korean bridgehead just north of Wacgwan. which, although resolutely attacked and reduced in size by the South Korean 1st Divi- sion, was never finally liquidated, is again being expanded. The North Koreans have again brought tanks into the bridgehead, which American pilots to-day attacked with unknown results. The pilots report that the North Koreans have built a causeway of sandbags, across the river about 18in. under water (a favourite engineering practice of the Russians
the last war) which is difficult for aircraft to knock out.
In spite of continued American counter- jattacking no progress has been made in reducing the North Korean bridgehead in the loop of the Naktong about 30 miles south of Waegwan. A delayed message from our Special Correspondent in Korea is on page 3.
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