BATTLE OF KOREA: Ready for the Enemy

If the Communists attack again in Korea, they will probably not be satisfied with another “human sea” offensive, the last two of which failed so miserably. In the past month, the pace of their buildup, which has been going on all summer, has increased, in spite of allied air attacks on their bridges, rail lines and road transport. They now have 500 or more tanks —more than the North Koreans had at the start of the war — and 1,000-plus planes, some of them bought by “popular subscription” (i.e., forced collection) among Red China’s people. In Korea, they are making strenuous efforts to keep their airfields in operation despite steady U.N. bombardment; and they have new searchlights to help them shoot at allied night-flying planes.

Four new Communist divisions were reported behind the lines on the eastern front, where the most vigorous of last week’s small-scale battles were waged. Altogether, along the battlefront the Reds have about 40 divisions, fully refitted and resupplied, with another 30 divisions in reserve. The violence of their artillery fire in recent weeks suggests that they have stocked more ammunition than ever before. According to allied intelligence, increasing numbers of European troops, believed to be recruited from Russia’s Balkan satellites, have been brought in for training and advisory work, and to serve in the artillery, antiaircraft, armor, engineer, medical and airbase units.

The Eighth Army is ready for the enemy. It is in the best trim and the strongest positions of its Korean career.