The Korean War, 70 Years Ago, The Public Opinion, Chambersburg PA
Korean War Weekly Front Pages
2 December – 8 December 1951
The Public Opinion, Chambersburg PA
A surprise Red compromise plan.
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Communist truce negotiators proposed behind-the-lines inspection by neutral observers and a “complete freeze” on troops in arms in Korea, possibly paving the way for agreement on another step toward an armistice. The move appeared to be a major concession on the part of the Reds. In the past they had refused adamantly to allow observers behind their lines and had insisted on the right to build up strength while an armistice was in force. The surprise compromise plan immediately drew from Allied envoys more than a score of searching questions. The big one was what neutral nations do the Communists have in mind to police the truce? On Tuesday Communist negotiators insisted on four limitations to supervision of a truce in Korea. The Allies objected to all four. They included the right to build airfields, inspection being limited to ports of entry, a ban on troop rotation, and no interference or inspection on any reconstruction in Korea.
At the end of the week, UN negotiators made another unsuccessful effort to break the long deadlock over policing a truce in Korea. The Reds rebuffed all UN overtures and again said “No” to every key UN proposal for supervising an armistice. After five hours of debate in which tempers on both sides of the conference table became frayed, the two-man subcommittees appeared no nearer in agreement which would break the 12 day deadlock. Nonetheless, some observers saw hope of a compromise solution soon. They believed the negotiations had reached the hard bargaining stage which frequently comes just before an agreement is hammered out. Negotiators were scheduled to go back to Panmunjom for another session at 11 AM on Sunday.
British and American Marines ripped through Red defenses 130 miles behind the front in the most powerful hit-and-run Commando raid of the Korean War, the Allies announced. The Anglo-American force - its numerical strength unspecified - stormed ashore on the east coast Sunday night under cover of heavy naval gunfire. The troops shot up Communist communications and transport midway between the Soviet frontier and the front.
On Wednesday, US pilots reported shooting down five Red MIGs and damaging five in a tenth straight day of jet warfare over North Korea. The Fifth Air Force said no US jets were lost or damaged. The Wednesday bag raised the US toll of Red jets in ten consecutive days to 64 - 32 shot down, one probably shut down, and 31 damaged. Announced Allied losses over the period were six jets.
(Photo courtesy newspapers.com, Chambersburg Public Opinion)