LITTLE HOPE OF PEACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26228, 12 August 1946, Page 5

LITTLE HOPE OF PEACE

WARRING FACTIONS IN CHINA UNREST STEADILY GROWING (Rec. 8 p.m.) NANKING, Aug. 10. The complete cessation o hostilities throughout China appear impossible, said General George Marshall., the American President’s personal representative in China, and the United States Ambassador, Mr J. L. Stewart in a joint statement after lengthy conferences with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and the Communist negotiator, General Chouen-Lai. A message from Peiping says the truce headquarters announced an “ armistice ” on China’s western front; Communist and Government troops in Hupeh.

Honan, and Shansi have been ordered immediately to withdraw 10 miles. The truce has no bearing on Manchuria or the most recently reported fighting at Kaingsu, north of Nanking. China r s civil war is daily growing more widespread, threatening to engulf the country beyond the control of those responsible. The people, in addition to the leaders of both sides, are anxious to end the war. but there are certain issues where agreement has not been found, including the redistribution of troops and the character of the local or county governments to be established in disputed regions pending a basic decision on such matters by the constitutional assembly. Fifty armed Chinese ambushed a coal train on the Peiping-Mukden railway, about three miles north of Lutai, and detonated charges which derailed the engine and eight cars, reports the Associated Press. The Chinese opened fire on the caboose immediately after the explosion and four United States Marine guards, riding in the caboose, returned the fire and held off the attackers. Two Chinese casualties are reported and eighty men of a rescue patrol picked up the marines. Observers said the attackers were undoubtedly Communists.