THE CHINESE PUZZLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26043, 5 January 1946, Page 5

THE CHINESE PUZZLE

SUGGESTED TRUCE DELEGATES CONFERRING CHUNGKING, Jan. 3. While senior Government and Communist delegates are meeting to seek a truce in China’s war, reports of fighting have increased. The Government announced that the Communists were advancing at several points in North China, and were repulsed in an attempt to seize Tangshan airfield. It added that General Tu Wi Ming, commander of the National forces in Manchuria, intended to inspect the position of his troops in Jehol province, where the Communists were ready to resist any advance. A Communist despatch said the Reds captured the coastal town of Poreh and had taken three nearby villages. They killed 500 puppets and took prisoner 500 Chinese. The Communists, replying officially to the Central Government’s proposals, welcomed General Marshall as mediator, and asserted: '“ We will discuss favourably every suggestion regarding the immediate cessation of the civil war arid the establishment of unity and democracy. The presence of other just and impartial elements like the Democratic League is, however, desirable.”

Subsequently another official statement said the situation in Jehol had taken a very serious turn with the Nationalist capture of Fiisin- and Chaoyang. It added that the Kuomintang must immediately evacuate its forces from Jehol. General Chennault has left New York for China. Air Transport Command officials classed his missiqp as secret. General Chennault declined to make a statement. Nevertheless, there are strong indications that he is taking a private assignment with the Chinese air force.