Communists Seeking Junks To Cross The Yangtze River

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 December 1948, Page 5

Communists Seeking Junks To Cross The Yangtze River

(Reuter). SHANGHAI, Dec. 7 (Recd. 10 pm.— The Nationalist garrison last night was still holding the inner defences of Kiangyen, 70 miles north-east of Nanking, despite steady artillery bombardment, according to the latest pro-Government dispatches Two columns of Government reinforcements are trying to reach the semi-destroyed town. Communists east of Kiangyen are reported to be requisitioning more than 1000 junks in preparation for crossing the Yangtze, which is only 20 miles southward. In North China Communists captured two towns 40 and 30 miles respectively north-east of Peiping. The Shanghai City Government yesterday clamped down a censorship on all newspapers and news agencies, both foreign and local, as the war situation in China took a new grave turn. The censorship order instructed that all material should be submitted to the police authorities for censorship before publication. The order threatened that a cancellation of licence would operate in the event of non-compliance. Reports from Nanking say the Com munists have surrounded elements o' three Nationalist Army groups nine miles north-east of Yuncheng, in Eastern Honan. They are the 2nd. 13th and 16th groups, which recently abandoned Hsuchow to march southward. The apparent retreat of the Communists north-west of Pengpu was a rapid tactical movement to complete the encirclement south-west of Suhsien. HEAVY FIGHTING. The Communist encirclements are believed to be logical tactical moves to wipe out all opposition before trying an all-out drive on the Yangtze, Heavy fighting is already reported around Hweiying and east of Taihsien, just north of the Yangtze, northeast of Nanking. In North China the first report that Communist troops were south-west of the Great WaU pass of Kupeikow, separating Jehol from Hopei, came with mention of fighting near Miyun, 40 miles north-east of Peiping. Fight-

ing is progressing at Changping, also within the Great Wall, and 18 miles from Peiping. The Nationalists claim to have driven off the Communists in the vicinity of Kalgan, in South Chahar. Several hundred United States Marines are being transferred to Shanghai from Asingtao to allay apprehension among local communities over possible city-wide disorders in connection with the central China war developments. Nationalists, who have abandoned Hsuchow, were reported last night to be battling with Communists between Yungcheng and Shianshen, in the Honan-Anhwei border region. The Nationalists are reported to be making steady progress.