Allied-Red Fight Rages at Kumsong
The Florence Morning News, Florence, S.C., Sunday October 21, 1951.
SEOUL, KOREA, Sunday, Oct. 21, 1951, - (AP) – Touch-and-go
fighting raged today on the Southern approaches of flaming Kumsong
former Communist stronghold on the Central Korean Front, which was
shot-up by Allied tanks Saturday.
United Nations forces punched to within one mile and a half of the
battered city. Infantrymen slogged out in the chill mountain
mist this morning to battle Chinese dug in on two hills below
Kumsong.
Fires burned in the city. They were set by artillery pounding
and the bold armored strike in Kumsong.
An Eighth Army briefing officer described the situation south of
Kumsong as “fluid” with the hill fighting raging at so many points
it was hard to determine whether the Reds were in front of the lines
or behind them.
AP Correspondent Sam Summerlin reported that United Nations foot
soldiers met fierce resistance from the deeply-entrenched Communist
defenders southeast of the smoking city. One of the peaks is
the highest in the sector.
Earlier reports said the back of the Red’s Kumsong defense was not
broken as the Communists fought from three peaks. Presumably
it was two of those three that were under attack.
Southwest of Kumsong, Allied Units mopped up in hilly terrain a
scant two miles from Kumsong, situated 30 miles from Parallel 38.
A front line officer said that thick fog prevented Allied tanks from
observing full results of their Saturday raid into the rubbled town.
The tankers reported several fires were started.
The raiding tanks moved unopposed to the outskirts of the road
junction town. About 20 minutes later a front line officer
reported “everything broke loose.”
Although the Chinese threw heavy-mortars, artillery, and anti-tank
fire at the raiding armor, the tanks returned to their own lines
unscathed Saturday.
Other Headline on Oct. 21, 1951
Nearing Agreement (Armistice Talks)