SPEEDY AID NEEDED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 75, 8 January 1949, Page 5

SPEEDY AID NEEDED

American Diplomat on China STRUGGLE AGAINST COMMUNISM (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, January 0. A plea for rapid action to aid China before it was too late was* made to-day by Mr \Vhhani G. Bullitt, a former United States Ambassador to Moscow and Paris. Mr Bullitt made his appeal in a report submitted to the Congressional Committee on Foreign Economic Aid which sent him to China late in 1948.

Mr Bullitt said that the Chinese Nationalist forces would require American direction and control exercised by a fighting general to defeat the Communists. The Nationalists had no general with the military training and technical skill to meet the attack of the Communist Army 2,000,000 strong. i “If we decide to abandon Asia to the Communists, let it be done with a full knowledge that we are reversing the policy of President Roosevelt and Mr. Cordell Hull, apd probably adding to the foes of the United States not only 450,000,000 Chinese, but also all the other inhabitants of Asia,” said Mr Bullitt.

“If the Communists conquer South China, it will not be long before they seize Indo-China, Siam, Burma and Malaya,” said Mr Bullitt. “How long then will it be before Indonesia and India fall into their hands?” Mr Bullitt said that the Chinese soldier, , when well-trained, well-fed and well-led, was the equal in endurance and morale of any in the world. Many Chinese non-commissioned officers, lieutenants and captains were good, hut many of the officers from the rank of major upward were both incompetent and dishonest—especially the generals. After reporting to the committee at a closed session, Mr Bullitt told reporters that he thought an American general with a staff of 600 officers should be sent to China. He added: “I believe that General MacArthur could do the job in less time than any other general.” Senator Styles Bridges (chairman of the committee) said that members Avere impressed by the desperateness of the situation, but they were taking no action, and none was expected until the new Congress organised a new committee. The present group was organised by the Republicancontrolled Congress.

MR LIE NOT INTERVENING NEW COMMUNIST OFFENSIVES NANKING, Jan. G. The Secretary-General of the United Nations (Mr Trygve Lie) announced in New York to-day that lie would not intervene in the Chinese war. Mr Lie explained in an official announcement that his authority to take action was doubtful, and that in any ease, he failed to see that any action on his part could be helpful in the present situation. The Nanking correspondent of the ‘‘New York Times” reports that the Communist radio to-day declared that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s peace conditions, as announced in his New Year message, were “a trick to preserve the present ruling economic groups.” The radio, for the third successive time, rejected Marshal Chiang’s conditions. After 20 days’ lull on the north Anhwei front, the Communist armies yesterday began their expected offensive against the Nationalist forces defending the Nanking-Shanghai area. Reliable military sources say that seven Communist columns marched south from the north bank of the Hwai river, 110 miles north of the capital. Part of one column is reported to have crossed the rivet south-west of Hwaiyuan, west or Pengpu, and to have engaged the Nationalists. \

The Communist forces of General Chen-vi are also reported to have begun an almost continuous artillery bombardment of General Tu Yu* ming’s encircled Suchow garrison, south-west of Suhsien.

Reported Insubordination

“Three top Chinese generals are politely refusing to obey Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s military orders, in an effort to force him to resign,” says the United Press, quoting wellinformed sources. “The generals said to be guilty of insubordination are General Pai Chung-hsi, of the Hankow garrison controlling the Yangtse river west of Nanking; General Chang Chen, provincial commander of Honan, whose troops stand north of the Yangtse, between the Communists and Nanking; and General Cheng Chien, commander at Changsha, south of Hankow. “General Pai Chung-hsi, whose troops were reported to be on their way to the Pengpu front more than a month ago, is said to have withdrawn to Hankow in defiance of Marshal Chiang’s orders. General Chang Chen is said to have withdrawn most of his forces to the north of the Yangtse, and General Cheng Chien has remained in Changsha, in spite of orders to move north to ilia river. “An informant said the generals had not openly defied. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, but had given various excuses, such as transport, difficulties and material shortages, for failing to obey his orders. All throe had telegraphed Marshal Chiang, suggesting that he take a ‘vacation.’ ”