Shanghai Bund Sealed Off From City : Red Encirclement Growing

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22951, 20 May 1949, Page 5

Shanghai Bund Sealed Off From City : Red Encirclement Growing

(N.Z.P.A.—Renter—Copyright.) (10.15 a.m.) . SHANGHAI, May 19. The police authorities in Shanghai tonight dramatically sealed off the billion dollar Bund area from the rest of the city. An official announcement said that from tomorrow only street cars will be allowed to pass the Bund, and no other traffic or pedestrians will be permitted.

It is not clear whether office personnel will be barred from going to work tomorrow in businesses located on the Bund. This area contains heavy British property investments. The Hong Ivong Bank is located there, so is the Chinese Customs, Bank of China, Cathay Hotel, Palace Hotel and the British and American Consulates.

Atmosphere Tension In rainy, gloomy weather Shanghai entered the eighth night of its siege with the symphony of gunfire ominously absent. In an atmosphere of tension, the city awaits the climax of the battle which some sources now believe is imminent. The battle for control of the mouth of the Whangpoo River, the vital point on Shanghai’s 15-mile long sea outlet, is expected at any moment. Communist troops continue to converge on the river mouth, leaving a wake of fires as they skirted the eastern and western limits of the city. It is thought likely that the battle for Whangpoo and the key city on the western bank of the river mouth, Woosung, would have to reach a decisive stage before the Communists began a serious attack on Shanghai itself. William Parrott, the N.Z.P.A.-Reuter correspondent in Canton, reports that more than 20,000 Nationalist troops in four areas on the Kiangsi-Fukien-Kwangtung borders revolted and went over to the Communists. Parrott adds that observers believe the revolt indicates a serious threat to Canton as they see the possibility of these forces joining up with the Communists ip their southward advance. Mr. Tan Kah Kee, a well-known overseas Chinese leader from Singapore, today urged his fellow countrymen in the Fukien Province to exert to their utmost the speedy realisation of local peace with the advancing Communists. His “save Fukien” message, issued in Hong Kong, has been followed by an appeal from the Hong Kong Fukien Association to their countrymen inside and outside the province “to pave the way for the liberation and local peace.” Mr. Tan Kah Kee is en route _ for Communist China. His message said it would not be long before the whole of the Fukien Province was liberated. He called on high-ranking Kuomintang officials and military commanders in Fukien to sever all relations with Gen Chiang Kai-shek and atone for their misdeeds. Cross River Assault Smashed

Government planes smashed a Communist attempt to cross the Whangpoo River and seize Lunghwa airport, states a garrison 'communique. The Reds launched an amphibious attempt in small boats last night The communique admitted that Chowpu, 10 miles from Whangpoo, the last stronghold between the Communist forces driving from the south-east and the city had fallen. The Communists stepped up their assault .on Woosung forts but were driven back by Nationalist counter-attacks. One engagement lasted 12 hours before the Reds withdrew with “very heavy losses ** * The Central News said that Communists captured Chienlangchung bridge, only three miles from the Whangpoo and that Luhang had also fallen. The agency also revealed that Government troops are preparing to evacuate the major port of Foochow as the Communists are within 30 miles of that citv. Military observers in Shanghai believe that the Communists are massing overwhelming manpower for a knockout blow.