FORMOSA FEARS ATTACK

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 9

FORMOSA FEARS ATTACK

China Moves Bombers To Coastal Bases (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 9. Communist China had moved bombers into coastal air bases within range of Nationalist China and additional Mig-jet fighters into an air base 20 minutes flying time from Formosa, authoritative sources reported today, the United Press International said in a dispatch from Taipeh. All Nationalist Chinese military forces, police and civil defence units were on a war-time alert after reports of re-deployment of Communist Chinese warplanes to bases across the Formosa Strait, the agency said. Air raid sirens sent Nationalist Chinese garrisons on Matsu into full battle positions when four red Mig-jet fighters were sighted to the southwest of the island 12 miles off the Communist China coast. But the planes flew on.

Three air alerts were sounded yesterday within three hours on Matsu, Nationalist China’s northernmost offshore island group. Authoritative sources said the Communists deployed additional bombers to air bases near Shanghai and in Lu Chiao in recent days. More M.l.G’s were sent to Lung Chi air base. Communist fighter planes operating from Lu Chiao three years ago forced the Nationalists to abandon the Techen Island. Formosa is within easy bombing range of Lu Chiao. Nationalist Chinese officials were openly concerned that the Communists might take advantage of the concentration on Middle East problems to launch operations.

There had been an increase in Communist Chinese air activity in the last two weeks. The supersonic M.1.G.-17s shot down two Nationalist planes in one dogfight over the Formosa Strait and several other air duels had been reported since.

The Lung Chi air base on the Communist-held mainland is three minutes flying time from Quemoy, the major Nationalist offshore island.

The United States is pledged by treaty to defend Formosa and the Pescadores off the west coast, but the decision to defend the offshore islands can be made only by President Eisenhower. It was announced that all martial law enforcement agencies in Formosa would be disbanded at midnight tonight, and their duties concentrated under a single unified headquarters—the Taiwan Garrison Command.