MAJOR GAINS IN MANCHURIA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25307, 6 October 1947, Page 7

MAJOR GAINS IN MANCHURIA

RENEWED COMMUNIST DRIVE (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) „ , NEW YORK. October 4. Major Communist gains in Manchuria were acknowledged to-day by fee semi-official Central News Agency, the Nanking corroapondant of the “New York Tunes." It is announced that the attacking Red forces have captured Kungchuling an important railway centre, and have cut off Changchun from the west south-west, and south. Striking from staging points north-west of Changchun. General Lin Piao’s heavily reinforced brigades also captured Hwaitoh, 30 miles west of Changchun, and Itung, 38 miles to the south. The Communists are reported to w v « oy “ clared a state of siege. Communist troops were also rdpertad around Sifeng. 50 miles south-east ef Szcpmgkai, which is a strategic rail hub. The Central News Agency reported that Communist troops, moving down faom the north, had captured Kaingnifeng. 28 miles north-east of Kirin, which is another important rail junction, while other Communist units were engaging the Nationalists at Wulakai, 20 miles north of Kirin. The primary objectives in the new Communist drive appear to be Kirin and-Changchun, which are being defended by the American-trained new Ist Army. The Nationalists, while expressing confidence in their ability to hold their salient in Manchuria, including Changchun, Kirin, Szepingkai, and Mukden, claim that the Communists have now expanded their forces in Manchuria to 450,000 men.