CHANGED U.S. PLANS SLEEPING SICKNESS IN KOREA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28685, 8 September 1958, Page 11

CHANGED U.S. PLANS

SLEEPING SICKNESS IN KOREA

“Reconsidering Showdown”

(Rec. 10.40 p.m.) TAIPEH, September 7.

The Americans were today said to be reconsidering their earlier decision to force a showdown late tonight on the Communist blockade of shell-battered Quemoy Island.

This followed the Peking Government offer made over Peking Radio to resume negotiations at ambassadorial level on Chinese-American disputes, including the tense Formosa Straits issue.* Unofficial American sources said today it had earlier been decided that the American 7th Fleet would convoy Nationalist supply ships from .the Pescadores Islands in the Formosa Straits, starting this afternoon.

This would have brought American ships within sight of the Nationalist-held Quemoy Islands and Communist Shore batteries just before midnight. An American source said this morning: “There ip every chance of this plan being called off.” However, he said, it was still possible, plans for the 7th Fleet to escort the convoy might go ahead in order to test Communist intentions. The Peking Goveniment on Thursday claimed a 12-mile territorial waters jurisdiction and warned foreign warships and planes to stay outside that limit. The American source said the 7th fleet Formosa Strait patrols were already not observing this Communist claim. Destroyer patrols which had been neutralising the Formosa Straits Since the Korean war began were continuing to patrol within five and eight miles of the Communist coastline. Three-Mile Limit

The United States has said it will only recognise a three-mile territorial water limit by international law.

Another major Nationalist Chinese “show of strength” is scheduled for early tomorrow morning, when Nationalist and American Marines will storm ashore from warships on Fangliao beach, Southern Formosa, in their first joint amphibious exercise. Earlier it was reported “a number of new things’* would be tested at this landing. This caused some speculation that the exercise knight include a simulated attack by missiles with nuclear heads, both from 7th fleet ships and Formosan mainland bases. ' *■ .- But there is evidence here that the Americans are also “playing down’* these manoeuvres, mainly because of the extremely dangerous situation in the Straits. A large party of foreign and Chinese journalists left Taipeh this> morning to attend the manoeuvres. A Nationalist Government spokesman said today he could make no comment on the Chinese Communist offer to resume the Geneva talks with the Americans. Asked whether he believed the Communists were ready to renounce force, he said: “We don't believe anything the Communists say.” The Communist shore batteries overlooking the Quemoy group were quiet today for the second day in succession. A group of journalists returning from the Quemoys last night said the only shelling was now coming from Nationalist guns. They said there were indications that supplies were running out on the jsland, including supplies of ammunition.

(Rec. 9.30 pm.) SEOUL, Sept. 6.

Sleeping sickness has killed 1135 people in South Korea in the last six weeks, officiais reported today, according to the American Associated Press. z r-