CHANGCHUN BATTLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1946, Page 5

CHANGCHUN BATTLE

Fighting in Manchuria Capital Falls to Communists (Rec. 11 a.m.) CHUNGKING, April 19. An official broadcast from Yenan reported that the Communists last night captured Changchun. The radio added: “The city was cleared of Japanese and puppet troops and bandits after the Communist-led democratic joint army entered the city to establish law and order. Democratic municipal government has been reestablished and the city has returned to normal.” The broadcast claimed that Changchun was plunged into confusion after the Soviet withdrawal by looting and outrages by puppet troops, bandits and remnants of the Japanese forces. The puppets were commanded by the “notorious” General Chiang Peng-fei. The broadcast claimed that Communists still firmly held Szepingka, which the Chinese stated they captured several days ago. An official Central News Agency dispatch from Changchun early today said the Communists had seized the greater part of the capital after 12 hours’ severe fighting. The Government forces were short of ammunition, but were receiving constant air support. The Communists’ Yenan radio reported that the Communists had entirely annihilated a division of the Government’s First Army at strategic Pamiencheng, 20 miles west of Szepinkkai, from whee Government forces are attempting to take aid to Changchup.