LITTLE DAMAGE IN TOWN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25936, 17 October 1949, Page 7

LITTLE DAMAGE IN TOWN

Canton had suffered little damage when General Chen Keng's troops, totalling about 20.000. inarched into the city, according to evacuees who have reached Hong Kong. The Cantonese were impressed by the discipline of the troops. A small number of Nationalist troops, who were wandering round in one of the city’s main streets, were disarmed by the Communists. Restaurants and shops have reopened end the city’s bus services were functioning last night. All the Chinese newspapers, except the Kuomintang organ the “Central Daily News” have resumed publication. A Chinese vessel made a dash down the Pearl river last night after the Communists had occupied Canton. The vessel, which carried a large number of Chinese, reached Hong Kong to-day. A Nationalist warship . intercepted the ship in the river, but 1 allowed it to proceed after identification. The evacuees reported that the ! Nationalists had destroyed the Pearl river bridge in Canton and that a large fire was raging near the CantonHankow railway station at Wongsha. The fire was started by Nationalist shells from the north bank of Canton harbour.

Pro-Communist elements in the border town of Shautakok raised the flag Half an hour after about 20 Nationalist police and local militia had crossed into British territory and surrendered their arms to the Hong Kong 1 police. Communist guerillas, camped five miles away, were invited to occupy the town. They are expected to arrive at any moment. The Hong Kong police believe that more border points will be occupied to-morrow. Shautakok lies at the - eastern end of the 17-mile frontier and about 2.5 miles from Hong Kong Island. The frontier passes down the middle of the main street. The Nationalist authorities. who have negotiated for the last two days over their retirement into Hong Kong, crossed to the British side of the street in civilian clothes this afternoon and surrendered a quantity of machine-guns, rifles, revolvers, grenades and ammunition. The Shautakok Chamber of Commerce immediately met and decided to go over to the Communists. After raising the flag, the chamber appointed temporary guards while they invited the nearest Communist guerrillas to take over the town.