NATIONALISTS WILL DEFEND SOUTH CHINA ON MAINLAND

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1949, Page 5

NATIONALISTS WILL DEFEND SOUTH CHINA ON MAINLAND

COMMUNIST ENTRY TO CANTON ON SUNDAY

N.Z.P.A.—Reuter. HONG KONG, Oct 1

The Nationalist authorities in Canton have succeeded in arranging a regional peace with the Communists, according to a Chinese source.

Communist troops will enter Canton on Sunday and take over the administration of the city. Communist forces have reached Tsungfa, 3.5 miles north of Canton, according to reliable Chinese reports reaching Hong Kong. These reports indicated that General Chenkeng’s vanguard has progressed at least 10 miles in the past 24 hours and continued to press on.

The threat to the Canton-I"owloon railway from Communist troops striking down the East river is reported to have increased as irregulars linked up with the troops on General Chenkeng’s left flank. Canton was blacked out one hour earlier last night as new curfew regulations were enforced. The harbour was deserted. Ships which normally tied up alongside the city wharves had suddenly disappeared. This is attributed to the owners’ fears that the ships will be requisitioned for evacuation purposes.

Among thousands of people evacuating Canton to-day were 22 Russians, the first batch of Soviet Embassy officials to leave. The rest are leaving to-morrow.

Soviet officials left the Embassy building on the Sha.meen and walked towards the island’s west bridge carrying their own luggage. Chinese coolies refused to carry it. The Nationalist air fore?, in a desperate attempt to halt the Communists, made 240 bombing and strafing sorties yesterday. Two British ships will continue to ply between Hong Kong and Canton to help to evacuate foreigners and Chinese until the last moment. A heavily-booked night express bringing hundreds of evacuees from Canton to Hong Kong reached the colony at the Canton terminal. Reason For Leaving Canton (N.Z.P.A.—REUTER CABLE) (Rec. 11.50). HONG KONG, Oct. 13. Evacuation of Canton will be completed by to-morrow night, and the city will be abandoned by Saturday, according to a Chinese source. He claimed that his information came from a high-ranking Nationalist officer who had arrived at Hong Kong from Canton last night. The informant said the Nationalist High Command were sacrificing two regiments in an attempt to hold up the Communist, General. Chenkeng’s advance until all the Nationalist troops in the Canton area were evacuated. ' It is reported that Nationalist China’s refugee Government will operate in Chungking officially from Saturday. The official Central News Agency, quoting a Presidential decree, said to-day that the removal of the capital to Chungking was made in order to increase the strength of the fighting forces and to reduce the burden on the non-belligerents. The decree said that the Government had mad e adequate preparations on the south-west mainland for a coming counter-attack against the Communists. The decree added that the present entry of the Reds into the Kwangtung territory did not affect in the least the determination of the Nationalist Government to continue to defend Canton and the south-west.