COMMUNISTS OCCUPY SHANGHAI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27090, 26 May 1949, Page 7

COMMUNISTS OCCUPY SHANGHAI

CALM DESCENDS OVER CITY AS RED TROOPS MOVE IN UNOPPOSED

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec 11 p.m. I SHANGHAI, May 25. Comnrtmist troops early this morning began the occupation of Shanghai. All police stations were flying white flags and the streets were deserted. ; While the Communist task of taking over the greatest city in all Asia moved forward, the din of battle still echoed from the Woosuiig front where the Nationalist garrison is fighting to keep (open the road to their escape port of Woosung, 10 miles ncjrth of Shanghai. Aside from (scattered smallarms fire, however, calm descended over Shanghai as Communist troops made their entry. Nationalist troopis at the City Hall even put up a huge sign over their barricade saying: “ Welcome the People’s Liberation Army.” f

Green-clad Ccjmmunisi troops inarched into the city to the pealing of church bells.. .1

The sudden Nationalist withdrawal a few hours after fihe Shanghai garrison command had jexhorted the population to resist the invaders by all means at their disposal, left most* inhabitants stunned! The majority, however, seemed relieved that the city had been spared tlje blood bath which General Tang En iPo only yesterday insisted would eiasue if Red troops broke through thq outer defences. At some sandfbag barricades in the city Nationalist troops sat ont In the open as' though awaiting capture, or striolled around without firearms like soldiers on ieave. j All street defences were demolished during the night and police squads tore down anti-Communist slogans pasted on walls. I The Associated! Press correspondent says Red troops j immediately put up posters instructing the populace to be calm and assuring them that they had nothing to fear. ! • Battle /in the North The Communists took over the heart of Shanghai to-day without a fight, but a sharp beetle flared up as they attempted to expand their occupation northward. Fighting for the Garden Bridge, the key span from the Bund across Soochotv Creek, began early this afternoon] The Reds are also moving againsft other Nationalist-held bridges across j the creek. ' All indications suggested that the Government defenders and Communist leaders had arranged the city’s surrender. The (occupation was peaceful with no looting or disorder. Per-

aistent rumours said big business interests fa Shanghai paid the Nationalist commanders large sums in gold bars to Surrender the city and depart peacefully. The Woosung fort guns roared this morning, but it is believed that both sides, were merely exchanging farewell salvoes before the Nationalist fleet ssflls for Formosa, where .Generalissimo Chaing Kai-shek is thought to be. [There is no indication that the Communists intend to oppose‘a sea retreat.' j Planned Evacuation The /Nationalist forces began their evacuation last night, a few hours before thje Communist break-through on the western edge of the city. Long lines qt trucks loaded with troops and weapons crawled across the Soochow Creek; bridges headed for the north. Peace (preservation troops who erected sandbfeg redoubts behind the retreating tiioops fired into the air occasionally tto warn away curious civilians. All' high-ranking Kuomintang and departmental officials fled the city during the night in aircraft which had been (kept standing by during the past few days, by the Mayor, Chen-liang, and (he police commissioner. Mao-sen, are imported to have remained behind. There are no communications to Woosung to-day and it is not known, whether the Nationalist withdrawal was .successful. The Nationalists in Shanghai’s last few/ hours sank half a dozen more shipis in the Whangpoo River which is tihe city’s route to the sea. Most of tjhese were scuttled in front of the wharf'areas. ' Shanghai’s usual early morning traffic crush did not develop. Many offices were believed to have notified thmr employees the previous day that they were not opening or would open lafe. . -■! The British Consul-general broadcast this morning advising Britons: “ Make a Sunday of this Wednesday.” . . . ... * - Communist troops who took up stations along important streets atiickly dropped to the footpaths and Went to sleep, obviously dead tired. ■Earlier they had moved down all the main avenues to the Bund in doubleduick time Their sharp formations and obvious spirit contrasted sharply with the indifferent Nationalist soldiers who Spent a good part of their last days in Shanghai looting.