795.00/12–1550: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State
priority
[Received December 15—4:18 a. m.]
575. Further to Embtel 565, December 121 and previous on Chinese intervention. Past 3 days have seen no contact between 8th Army units and CCF. In X Corps area UN units continue withdrawal without any noteworthy CCF pressure. Only fighting of any consequence is occurring few miles north of Chunchon where ROK ground forces [Page 1549] have been in contact with elements of North Korean Second Corps who holding old North Korean defense positions on 38th parallel. There are indications these North Koreans being steadily reinforced by re-equipped North Korean forces coming from far north.
8th Army intelligence is without firm evidence CCF have moved south of Pyongyang in any significant numbers. However, vehicular traffic continues to be heavy but it not known whether this represents supplies or reinforcements. On night of 12th when visibility poor, more than 200 vehicles were observed moving south, mainly on Kanggye-Kunuri road. On night of 13th visibility again poor, but many scattered vehicles were sighted, mainly on Kanggye-Huichon road. During night of 14th almost 800 vehicles were sighted of which 430 were moving south and 329 stationary. Heaviest concentration was observed on Sinuiju-Anju road. Last night some movement of vehicles was seen between Pyongyang and Chunghwa. Also, aerial observers past few days have sighted considerable cart, pack animal, and troop movement, usually in small, scattered groups, southward in about center of peninsula. It not known whether these represent Chinese or Korean movements.
Hostile aircraft continue activity around Sinuiju, using Manchuria as base. On 12th there were 3 sightings of Migs. One encounter ensued during which 8 Migs attacked UN planes. One Mig was damaged. On 13th no hostile aircraft were sighted. On 14th there were 2 sightings of Migs both in Sinuiju area. One group of 24 Migs attacked 4 UN jets. One Mig and no UN planes were damaged.
Re last paragraph Embtel 542, December 8, X Corps now reports carrying 32nd Army in sector, making total 5 CCF armies in X Corps sector. Re Embtel 517, December 5, 8th Army continues to carry 6 CCF armies as definitely in sector and 4 others probably in area.
- Not printed; it reported that during the past three days there had been almost no contact in the 8th Army sector between U.N. and either North Korean or Chinese Communist forces (795.00/12–1250).↩