DECLARATION BY CHIANG

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27576, 5 February 1955, Page 7

DECLARATION BY CHIANG

State Of War For Formosa

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 12:15 a.m.) TAIPEH, Feb. 4. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, President of Nationalist China, said today that Formosa had entered a state of war and that the time for launching a counter-attack on the mainland was drawing near. The United Press said the Nationalist leader had made the statement in a message to Formosan farmers on “Farmers’ Day.” He urged the farmers to double their production efforts. General Earle Partridge, the Unitea States Far Eastern Air Force commander, held secret conferences today with General Wang Hsu-ming, the Nationalist Air Force commander. It was believed they discussed the air defences of Formosa. Nationalist intelligence reports told of new Communist reinforcements pouring into the coastal areas near the Tachens. The official Tatao news agency said 100 amphibious tanks had joined the 400 already reported in the area by Nationalist agents on the coast. An American-built landing ship brought 180 more refugees to the northern port of Keelung today from Tachen. The refugees said United States deescorted them to safety on Formosa after the landing ship fought off attacks by Communist gunboats. The refugees said the American ships did not participate in the fighting, but stood nearby.