COMMUNISTS NOW ADVANCING ON SHANGHAI

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1949, Page 7

COMMUNISTS NOW ADVANCING ON SHANGHAI

Steady Push Following Capture Of Nanking: Streams Of Refugees

(Recd. 11 a.m.) SHANGHAI, April 25. Following the fall of the Nationalist capital, Nanking, the Communist armies advancing along the Nanking-Shanghai railway pushed within 35 miles of Shanghai today as the Nationalists continued to fall back east and south-east. The Communists reached the vicinity of Kunshan, 35 miles west of Shanghai, and, according to railway officials, Communist guerrillas have already entered the city. An official military spokesman declared that the Nationalists are withdrawing in perfect order from the Nanking-Shanghai railway to the outer perimeter of Shanghai. The total strength of the forces now concentrated in Shanghai, he said, numbered about 300,000 men. The Shanghai-Hangchow railway, which is the last land route of escape for the Shanghai garrison, was still open late this evening, despite earlier reports to the contrary, with Kashing 75 miles south-east of Shanghai still firmly in the Nationalists’ hands.

William Parrott, N.Z.P.A.-Reuter correspondent, reports that thousands of Chinese refugees are today streaming into Shanghai before the advancing Communists. The rich came in shining cars; the poor peasants came afoot, trundling hand-carts or pushing wheel-barrows. The refugees brought everything they could carry away or move—clothing, cooking utensils, furniture and poultry. Under torrential rains they plodded dismally into the city streets, which in many places are choked with traffic. Thousands of people crowded the shipping and airways offices, seeking passages abroad. No British Evacuation An official British statement said that it is not intended to carry out a general evacuation of British subjects from Shanghai. Canadian Pacific Airlines are standing by at Hong Kong to evacuate Canadians from Shanghai in the event of an emergency. All the Canadians in Shanghai have been warned that transportation out of the area may soon be cutoff by the advancing Communist troops. In Washington, the State Department said the American Ambassador to China, Mr Leighton Stuart, had been instructed to return- to Washington for consultations as soon as he has seen to the safety and welfare of the American community in the lower Yangtse valley. Mr Stuart remained in Nanking when the city fell to the Communists. E.C.A. Recovery Stocks

The Economic Co-operation Administration estimated that its stocks in Shanghai are valued at 12,671,000 dollars. " The stocks included cotton, rice, flour and fertiliser. No E.C.A. goods were left at Nanking. ■ The Nationalist garrison at Shanghai today detained the editors of two English language newspapers for publishing a report that the Communists had captured two towns.

Censorship Imposed The editor of the third English language newspaper was questioned and released. The disputed report, distributed by Reuter’s news agency, alleged that Soochow and Kashing had fallen to the Communists yesterday. The Associated Press says the Nationalist garrison at Shanghai has instructed the newspapers and news agencies that henceforth w all war news must be confined to garrison announcements released through the official Central News Agency. The Associated Press said it had not received the instruction and stated that the Communists were moving south-east with lightning speed, according to a widespread and persistent report. The Gomrnunists are also reported to have captured Kashing, cutting the railway to Hangchow. Garrison headquarters tonight specifically denied this and said that trains between Shanghai and Hangchow are still running. The garrison acknowledged that the Communist troops had infiltrated to Nanhsiang, 10 miles north-east of Shanghai.

U.S. Ambassador Awakened

A Nanking message reports that the American Ambassador, Mr Stuart, was awakened at 6.40 a.m. today by the abrupt entrance of armed Communist soldiers into his bedroom. The first throe soldiers spoke rudely to him, but were joined later by several officers,' who explained more civilly that they wished to inspect the premises. The Ambassador, his staff and property were not otherwise molested. Publication Suspended The garrison authorities today suspended publication as from tomorrow of the British-owned North China Daily News. It is understood

that objection was taken to the Reuter war summary -;published this morning by the papers. Two other English language newspapers, both also published the Reuter dispatch, but it is understood that no action was taken against them. Mr George Vine, acting-editor of the North China Daily News, and Mr Graham Jenkins, Reuter correspondent, have been given three-day detention terms under the martial law regulations. It is understood the charge against them was that they had “spread rumours” calculated to cause public alarm. Mr Vine is a Briton and Mr Jenkins an Australian. The British and Australian Consuls are interceding on their behalf.

(Earlier messages appear on Page 8)