Army Taking Over Control Of Korea

Chronicle (Levin), 5 July 1949, Page 5

Army Taking Over Control Of Korea

— — *■. : — R.eceived Moqdav. 7 p.m. NEW YQRK, July 3. Signs of a steady drift to militarv control over civil affairs in Soutb Iforea, are viewed yyitli mounting alarm by American militarv advisers, says the New York Times' Seoul correspondent. A highly placecl member of the advisory stalf said today: "These people seem rapidlv to be losing the understanding of the real purposes of an armv and are seeking to employ it as r super police force. " He said the drift to military control 111 the Korean Republie was taking place despite the . warnings of United States advisers. Since the completion of the withdrawal of United States troops last week, the Roreq.n Army has mpved into _ supervisioily if not outright control, of civil agencie§ in a nuniber of'instances. The Korean Armv and Government officials have denied vigprpusly that martiaJ law is about tp be imposed but it is a fact" thjit thp eivTl ppli're have b'eeii forced into a secondary position. Qualified observers in Seoul think that it the present stage it would require only a ppjior ip.cidpnt for- the army to extend its grip aiifl place niost of the republie ?s affairs under- its direct -000tfpl.