BORDER ATTACK ON CHINA

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26491, 4 August 1951, Page 7

BORDER ATTACK ON CHINA

REPORTED MOVEMENT BY NATIONALISTS SAIGON, August 2. Reports reaching Saigon say that Chinese Communist columns are now racing south to meet an assault by 15,000 Nationalist regulars and 3000 guerrillas across the Burma border into Yunnan Province. The Nationalist Army is said to be thrusting north and west along a 200mile front to the Mekong River, which runs north and south through the barren mountain ranges of Yunnan, China’s southernmost province. The reports, which still lack official confirmation, put General Li Mi in charge of the Nationalists, who are said to be making their biggest effort since the Communists swept China from Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s rule two years ago. The Nationalists’ attack began in mid-July. General Li, who is reported to have another force just inside Burma ready to join in the assault, said that his objective was to take a strip of Yunnan about 100 miles wide between the Burmese border and the Mekong River.

General Li was reported to have been helped in reorganising his troops by a guerrilla chieftain. Mu Shou-i, who has been operating in the Chinese Srovince near the northern end of the lurma frontier.

According to reports, 4000 Chinese Communist reinforcements are moving from Mengshi and Shunning—both north of the threatened area—to try to beat off the Nationalist invasion.

One Nationalist force is reported to have captured Kengma, about 70 miles north-east of the Bifrmese frontier. Reports state that Nationalist paratroops are in action and that some of General Li’s troops are being supplied from the air.

CHINESE TROOPS NEAR INDIA

(Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW DELHI, Aug. 3. The United Provinces Government has received confirmation of reports that small contingents of Chinese troops have been sighted at Taklako. a trading centre in west Tibet, near the Almora district on the Indian border.

The State Government has strengthened its police force at its eight check posts on the 250-mile Indian-Tibetan border to prevent anv infiltration.

EXECUTIONS IN CHINA

HONG KONG, August 2. The Communist authorities executed 396 foes of the regime in Shanghai in July, according to official newspaper reports. The latest victims, numbering 144. were executed last Saturday. The Communist newspaper “Liberation” stated that another 3000 persons were sentenced to prison terms in July.