Wild Exodus From Hangchow As Communist Forces Close In On City Of Shanghai

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 May 1949, Page 5

Wild Exodus From Hangchow As Communist Forces Close In On City Of Shanghai

SHANGHAI, May 2 (Ree. 8 pm) —The semi-official Central News Service said today that rail service from Hangchow to Nanchang had been suspended. This was the last railway escape from Shanghai to South China.

A wild civilian exodus from Hangehow is in full swing, following the Army’s evacuation of the city.

Refugees with little bundles of possessions are pouring out of the abandoned city as Communists continued to approach from the North. The Hangchow railway station was packed tight with a mass of struggling humanity numbering more than 150,000 impatiently awaiting trains to speed tiiem to safety along the Hangchow-Nanchang railway, which is the only communication artery southward. The latest official war communiques do not mention the military situation around Hangchow, but hint again at a new threat to Shanghai from the northwest. Communist forces in Changshu, 50 miles northwest of Shanghai, continue to be strengthened. Nationalist forces that eight days ago abandoned the Yangtse defences and escaped the Communist envelopment are now falling back behind another of China’s great rivers—the Chientang, 150 miles further south, for the next stand against the advancing Communist armies. Hat ing evacuated Hangchow, the Nationalists are taking up new positions along the south'bank of the Chientang, which flows in th e general direction of their 500-mile defence line stretcning from Ningpo through Hangchow to Nanchung. Military observers said it was uncertain whetner the Nauonaiists intend to defend the new position, or make another strategic withdrawal.

Two Communist columns yesterday, were officially reported to be moving swiftly south to attack Nationalist positions along highways running from the new Communist stronghold in the Lake Taihua area to Hangchow, and to Changwa, 45 miles to the west. Two other Communist columns are said to be drawing closer, despite Nationalist opposition, to the isolated road and railway junction of Hashing.