What does "trade men and ground" mean?

Status
Not open for further replies.

NewHopeR

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2009
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Context:

On 25 June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War.[227] The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 82, which authorized a United Nations (UN) force to help South Korea.[228] The UN empowered the American government to select a commander, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff unanimously recommended MacArthur.[229] He therefore became Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command (UNCOM), while remaining SCAP in Japan and Commander of the USAFFE.[230] All South Korean forces were also placed under his command. As they retreated before the North Korean onslaught, MacArthur received permission to commit U.S. ground forces. All the first units to arrive could do was trade men and ground for time, falling back to the Pusan Perimeter.[231] By the end of August, the crisis subsided. North Korean attacks on the perimeter had tapered off. While the North Korean force numbered 88,000 troops, Lieutenant General Walton Walker's Eighth Army now numbered 180,000, and he had more tanks and artillery pieces.[232]
 

shannico

Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2011
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Italian
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
Italy
Oops! I think you've left something out...The passage doesn't really make sense.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I believe it means that men died and the North Koreans obtained more ground under their control, but the pace of their advance was slowed down.
 

NewHopeR

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2009
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
I believe it means that men died and the North Koreans obtained more ground under their control, but the pace of their advance was slowed down.

Cool.
Thanks
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Oops! I think you've left something out...The passage doesn't really make sense.
Nothing has been left out. Barb explained what it meant. Here is a halfway stage, between the original and Barb's version.

All that they (the first units to arrive) could do was trade (= exchange) A (men and ground) for B (time); (as they did this) they fell back to the P.P.
 

shannico

Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2011
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Italian
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
Italy
Ok, it wasn't highlighted very clearly though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top