CLOSING IN FOR KILL AT SHANGHAI

Northern Advocate, 19 May 1949, Page 5

CLOSING IN FOR KILL AT SHANGHAI

SHANGHAI, Wed. (11.20 a.m.).—Communist armies approaching Shanghai from the east seem to be closing in for the kill.

Four large fires lit the eastern sky and the rumble of artillery continued this evening as Nationalists, contracting to new positions, prepared to pass the seventh night in direct defence of this stricken metropolis.

The muddy Whangpoo River, fronting the Bund, nas become the focus of attention as Communists on the Poo tung sidt- maintained pressure in their advance to the eastern bank This stretch of water, traditionally sampan-littered, has been washed clean in preparation against a possible Communist crossing after occupation of Pootung, which would expose foreign properties in the down-town area to the dangers of a frontal attack Nationalist troops, supported by light batteries, have taken up . defence posiUons in warehouses as a precaution against Red infiltration across the Whangpoo Woosung and Hungjat aerodrome, me city's last communication links are still in Nationalist hands out only aftei a desperate defence

ported on the southern and western fronts of the Shanghai perimeter, with an all-night thunderous struggle for Hungjao airfield ending in a stalemate this morning.

All foreign exaruaffon from Shanghai is now at a standstill. Mayor Chenliang again appealed to. the 6,000.000 population to remain calm, carry on their work, participate in the defence of the city and help boost the moral of tbe front-line troops. He promised to do everything possible to stabilise Shanghai’s economy However, with the almost complete collapse of any trading, merchants have become very despondent. Shops and cinemas remain open for business. According to Peiping Radio, Communists have captured Kiukiang. a commercial city on the southern Yangtse about 130 miles down-stream from captured Hankow. In Fukien Province more Nationalist reiniorcernefits arrived at the threatened South China port of Foochow.

it was touch and go Cor several nouTi as the Rei armies attempted >x> storm Woosung to box In the citv ■ 11 10, 000-strong garrison ilac official Centra News Agency clamed that Woosungs ancient brick and mud fort played an important role in the Nationalist success, it said fort g>m» wiped ou. many Communist artillery nests. No change in the positions was re-

Communists are reported to haye reached the outskirst of Foochow.

Wants Australian Planes At Hongkong CANBERRA, Thu. 12.30 p.m.)—A request that Australia should send a fighter squar’ro i to help defend Hongkong was made by Mr T. W. White (Liberal) in the House of Representatives.

He asked the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley)' to consider this step because of a probable attack on Hongkong by Communist armies and because the defence of Australia was bound up with that of Hongkong. Mr Chifley said that, so far, no request for help had been received from the British (. ernment Ai.j!o-U.s. Recognition WASHINGTON, Wed. (I p.m>The Secretary of State (Mr Dean Acheson) today denied knowledge of anv agreement between the United Gtates and Britain on coordination of ♦heir policies toward eventual recognition of the Chinese Communist regime. report that such an agreement had been reached appeared today in the New York Times in a dispatch from London. „ _ „