CHINESE RETREAT FROM PENGPU

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1948, Page 5

CHINESE RETREAT FROM PENGPU

(Rec. 9.5).- LONDON, Dec. 18. An Associated Press dispatch, from Pengpu, said Chinese Nationalist armies were in full retreat southwards to-day from the pierced Hwai River line, one hundred miles north of Nanking. Communist columns are reported to have crossed the Hwai River, in strength, west of this pivotal point, which is 108 miles north-west of Nanking. The Communists already had crossed in some force east of Pengpu earlier in the week. Thus outflanked, Pengpu is being abandoned by the forces. Government headquarters already have been moved to Chuhsien, which is only 30 miles north-west of Nanking. The Communist radio asserted that in Central China one hundred and twenty thousand Nationalist troops had been killed, wounded, or captured, when General Huangwei’s army group was annihilated. Part of the Communist General Liu Po Cheng’s forces, which had been encircling the Nationalist Twelfth Army group, were suddenly withdrawn to the west across the Honan border. There is fear that these troops may be starting a drive on Sinyang, in southern Honan, and Hankow, the Yangtse port in Hupeh, Two Peiking Suburbs in Enemy Hands (Rec. 10.40). NANKING, Dec. 18. Pro-Government reports to-day admitted the loss of Haitien, a western suburbs of Peiking, where a major airport is located; and Fengtai, a strategic railway station just outside Peiking. The city wall has been evacuated by Government forces. This is stated by a Reuter correspondent. Five columns of Communists, totalling one hundred and fifty thousand men, are now on the outskirts of Peiking. Four columns of Communists _ are closing on Tientsin, which now is almost completely isolated. Ancient Capital Preparing for Battle (Rec. 9.5). NANKING, Dec. 18. Inside Peiking city, the people are preparing for street fighting, and there is in hand construction of another airport between the inner and outer walls. The city may become a major battleground, as General Fu Tso-yi to-day began preparations, which are believed to indicate that he means to hold Peiking at whatever cost. He deployed his troops and artillery to all strategic points of the city to aid the ordered demolition of buildings in the immediate vicinity of the city, walls likely to provide Communists with cover. Thousands of labourers are engaged in constructing a new airport within the very centre of the city bordering on the legation quarter. The Nationalists have recaptured points in the radius of three to six miles outside Peiking. .The Nanyuan airfield still remains within Communist artillery range, and is unusable. Is Peiking in Hopeless Plight ? (Rec. 8.50). NEW YORK, Dec. 18. The correspondent of the New York Herald Tribune at Peiking says: It is recognised in Peiking that unless the Chinese Nationalist Government comes to terms with the Communists, a military collapse of General Fu Tso Yi’s few remaining strongholds in North China is only a matter of time. His armies are irretrievably partitioned and isolated. The only question agitating the public mind in the encircled city of Peiking is whether the ordeal is to be short or prolonged. Nationalists to Fight for Northern Port LONDON, December 17. General Fu’s headquarters claimed the recapture of Peitang, eight miles north of Tangku, the seaport ol Tientsin, but lighting is still going on in the outskirts of Tangku NANKING, Dec. 18. The Nationalists claim that they si ill hold Peitang, which is eight miles north of Tanku. A military conference, under Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, to-day, decided tn send “a strong naval force to reinforce a precarious Nationalist hold on Tangku, and also build up air strength at the port of Tsingtao. CHINESE FORM A WAR CABINET (Rec 8.30) ’ NANKING, Dec iB. China’s new Premier,. Dr. Sun 80, has succeeded in forming a War Cabinet, according to authoritative sources. „ n The composition of the Cabinet will be announced tomorrow. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek is reported to have persuaded high members of the Kuomintang to join tne Cabinet.