Show Assault loses Closes Red Gap GapIn In North Line TOKYO Sept 10 UP UPI Allied Allied troops snapped shut a a. dangerous I red gap in the northeastern end of the Korean war front Saturday I but lost a foothold nt at the other end of the mile battle line American and nd South Korean troops linked forces east of to close a threatening mile five-mile opening in the line between Yong- Yong chon and U U. N. N slogging ing through mud had U. U S. S aerial support support support sup sup- port for the first time in 36 hours as skies cleared Battle mountain most bitterly contested hill in the Korean battle battle battle bat bat- tle zone fell again to an attacking force of North Koreans on the southwest front It was aas the time in 16 days the mountain had changed hands Kill 1500 1300 Reds The fighting was severe at Battle mountain two miles from out burned-out Haman on the southwestern southwestern southwestern south south- I western approach to port The U. U S. S infantry division killed 1500 reds in action around I the mountain That boosted Communist Communist Communist Com Com- losses on the southwestern front for the week to well above men men men-a a division and a half and raised official estimates of red losses on all fronts to troops in eight days days about about 18 of their force Three thousand counterattacking counterattack counterattack- ing North Koreans recaptured the bald mountain which dominates approaches to Masan port on the extreme southern Korea coast A. A P. P correspondent Stan Swinton Swinton Swinton Swin- Swin ton said the reds drove outnumbered outnumbered Americans off the pea peak Ina in to ina toa a thunderous assault and held it Saturday night Retake Battle Buttle Mountain The North Koreans took tool Battle mountain in a dawn thrust lost it later in the day then came back with a successful punch despite despite despite de de- de- de spite an American artillery barrage barrage barrage bar bar- rage of rounds and strikes by U. U S. S planes Gen MacArthurs MacArthur's Tokyo Toyo headquarters headquarters headquarters head head- quarters early Sunday omitted its usual morning release as it often See Sec Page e 2 Column 1 I r r U U. U v No N. Closes North Gap GapAs As Reds Gain in South Continued from P PaRe Page c On OnI Ono One I has done when it has no Ing ng fresh developments to report Rain and thickly packed clouds which covered cred the Korean battlefronts battlefronts battlefronts battle- battle fronts Saturday morning dissolved later in the day and allied aIrcraft aircraft aircraft air aIr- craft went back into action after a n hour 36 lull AP Correspondent Leif Erickson Erickson Erick Erick- son reported HO close support plane flights were made most of them on the thc vital northeastern front between and Ky- Ky Some planes lashed at red po positions positions i- i in the river bridgehead bridgehead bridge c head west of 25 miles north of Battle mountain At least one band of or Communists I broke from ridge positions opposIte opposite opposite I site the U. U S S. S Second divisions division's center and fled toward the Nak Nak- tong AP Correspondent Don Huth reported ported from that sector AP Correspondent Jack MacBeth MacBeth MacBeth Mac- Mac Beth reported from the front that allied forces welded their once brol broken en lines late Saturday at atthe atthe atthe the end of a three-day three assault Three thousand South Koreans there rammed out gains of more than two miles southeast of Yong Yong- chon to link with American and other Republican troops punching westward from which is is 18 miles southwest of the red-held red east coast port of The junction in m the mud of rain- rain lashed battlefields knit together a mile five-mile breach in the defensive e ewall wall that Communist tank columns had smashed out in m a breakthrough earlier in the week Recapture Yong-chon Yong gateway to 20 miles to the west was recaptured Friday from tank led led reds who held it briefly I Scaling the line helped reduce the threat to from this battle flank behind which Communist troops were trying frantically to build up power for fora a new thrust The second gateway g to Tae lI from the north was held solidly throughout the day U U. S S. S First cavalry troops beat back hammering hammering hammering ham ham- mering red attacks against their dominating ridge positions seven miles mlles north of the m main mam in base of the Korean central warfront war- war front Between the U U. S S. S Second division division division divi divi- sion and the First cavalry division British troops beat off probing attacks attacks attacks at at- tacks by smaller red forces They are guarding an area west of just below the bend in th the river to the east While the ground fighting hUng Intensified Intensified in intensified In- In South Korean orean marines marines marines- an all ill-equipped ill outfit that has been snatching islands off the coast const from the reds slipped reds slipped far to the north and landed on Tae g g island in bay 70 miles du due south of Pyongyang the North Korean capital Eye Eje Supply Line LineA A naval spokesman said the purpose purpose pur pur- pose was to clamp a hand handon on the seaborne movement of Communist Communist Communist Com Com- supplies down the west coast B bombed Cit City near where the marines landed aiming at the Chosen Explosives Manufacturing Manu Manu- Co Earlier Lt 11 Gen Walton Valton H I. I Walker U. U S S. S Eighth army commander commander com com- mander in m Korea disclosed that tha t the Communist offensive begun Sept 1 was the largest the reds have ha mounted since the war began on June 25 General Walker Valker did not say so o but it was Wa apparent H troops W wore were re t trYIng Irving to C tit e 0 l lines quickly Saturday Ct of an anticIpated y iq 11 t J re punch of major 1 Pro porno o at |