Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Korea, Volume VII

795.00/12–750: Telegram

The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State

secret
priority

Seoul, December 7, 1950—1 p. m.
[Received December 7—2:22 a. m.]

532. Continuing Embtel 524, December 6,¹ contact between CCF and UN forces in Eighth Army sector still broken off yesterday. No specific information available on developments in X Corps area. No Chinese POWs have been obtained in recent days. Air reports indicate CCF relying heavily on horses, mules and camels to bring up supplies.

Air reconnaissance last night was limited owing poor visibility. However, about 200 vehicles were sighted moving south from Sinanju toward Pyongyang and another concentration, number unestimated moving southwest from Tokchon.

Yesterday UN planes attacked about 20 hostile aircraft parked on field at Sinuiju destroying 2 and damaging 2. UN planes returning for second attack found field clear of planes. During latter operation UN planes were attacked by 2 Mig’s but no damage resulted. Later in day flight of B–29’s was attacked by unknown number of Mig’s near Sinanju. 3 29’s were damaged but managed return to base.

Muccio

1. The text of telegram 524 read as follows:

   “Contact between UN and CCF forces in Eighth Army sector remained virtually nil yesterday as both continued regrouping. (Embtel 517, December 5.)

   “Vehicular traffic behind enemy line relatively heavy last night, about 400 vehicles being observed, mostly moving south with main concentration on Kanggye–Huichon road. Yesterday two Mig 15’s attacked four UN jets in vicinity Kanggye, damaging one of the latter. Migs fled into Manchuria when pursued by UN planes.” (795.00/12–650)