COMMUNISTS CLOSING ON CANTON

Grey River Argus, 12 October 1949, Page 5

COMMUNISTS CLOSING ON CANTON

Nationalists Clear Out

(N.Z.P.A,— REUTER CABLE)

(Rec. 9.50). HONG KONG, Oct. 11; General Chenkeng’s Communist forces, striking southward along the Canton-Hankow railway, have captured Lienkianakou, sixty miles north of Canton, according to reliable Chinese reports here. The Nationalist defenders along the Yingtak-Canton stretch of this railway are retreating to Chingyun, forty miles north of Canton.

These reports said that advance units of General Chenkeng’s armies are now driving toward Chung,fa, thirty miles north-east of Canton. General Chenyi’s forces in Fukien province are reported to have reached Shaoan, on the Fukien-Kwangtung border.

General Linpiao’s Communist armies on the Hunan front, have capeured Wukang, 115 miles south-east of Hengynng, and thirty miles from the Kwangsi border. A National Defence Ministry spokesman in Canton admitted that General Linpiao’s troops are now closing in on Ungling, eighty miles south of Hengyang, and twenty miles from the Kwangsi border.

Exodus Of The Government

NEW YORK, October 10

China’s Nationalist Government will begin functioning in Chungking on October 15, when it will cease its functions in Canton. Foreign diplomats will be notified of this move officially tomorrow or the next day. (Rec. 10.35). HONG KO'NG, (let. 11.

The Nationalist Acting I resident, General Litsungjen, and Premier Yenhsisham, are scheduled to leave Canton for Chungking by air to-morrow, following the news that th G military situation is worsening. This is reported b,v the N.Z.P.A.-Reuter correspondent, •Mr William Parrott. An exodus of other Government officials, to Chungking and Tiawan, continued to-day. Yesterday one hundred members of the Legislative Yuan left by special planes. Road transport and aircraft, evacuating officials and civilians, have operated from Canton throughout the past night. The air and shipping offices were crowded this morning witli Chinese clamouring for last-minute passages to Hong Kong, or to any other available point. The British and French Consulates in Canton to-day were contacting their nationals and advising those not intending to remain that they should make prepartions for an er.rly departure.

In Canton the populace is excited over the latest developments, but there are no -signs of a real panic. It is not believed that the departure of the Government will disrupt the administration o£ the city.

Soviet Ambassador At Peking

MOSCOW, October 10 Chinese Communist Government, Mr. N. V. Roschin, arrived in Peking today and was met by General Chou Enlai, th e Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, says the Soviet official news agency Tass. They exchanged speeches of welcome.

Thousands of workers and students’ representatives cheered Mr. Roschin as he left the station.

Turncoats Lose Diplomatic Status

PARIS. October 10

The entire staff of the Chinese Embassy and Consulate-General in Paris today transferred its allegiance to the new Chinese Communist Government at Peking. Last week the French Foreign Office announced that the Chinese Nationalist Government had intimated that its Ambassador in Paris, Dr. Tsein-tai, was considered to have resigned because of illhealth. (Rec. 9.45). PARIS, October 11. France has backed up the Chiang Kai-shek Government by striking the dissident members of the Chinese Embassy here from the diplomatic list. This is recorded 'by the Associated Press. A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry said that, since Franc e did not recognise the Peking regime, those members of the Chinese Embassy who have switched to the Chinese Communist Government would lose their diplomatic status and immunities. This announcement was made after six of the Nationalist Chinese Embassy staff of nine had gone ovei’ to the Communist side. It was earlier reported that all of the staff had switched.