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ESTABLISHED FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS
HONG
KONG, TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1949.
POOTUNG WAR NEAR CLIMAX
Thousands Watch Battle From High Buildings
GOVT COUNTER-ATTACK
Shanghai, May 23.
The Nationalist forcas, reinforced by fresh units, recaptured several important strongpoints in Northern Pootung today in a major counter-offensive and reopened the lower reaches of the Whang- poo river to navigation.
The official Central News Agency described the
Nationalist counter-blow as "the most sensa- Red Sympathisers battle of Shanghai, and said that the Koo- Told To Get Out
tional development" since the start of the
chiao beach area, five miles South East of Woosung, one of the points retaken, was con verted into a "mass graveyard" for the Red forces in Pootung.
A Garrison communique claimed that the bulk of the Communist 30th Army was almost totally wiped out after 48 hours' fighting, and ra- vealed that the Nationalist counter-drive was still progressing this morning.
The noon Garrison communique | machine-gun. They were ΠΟΙ described the Poolung battle as effective, Artillery and mortars nearing a climux. The centre of i rumbled at Intervals of 10 to 20 the fighting was directly across minutes. the Whangpon from the heart of
Canton, May 23.
General Yeh Shao, Garrison Caminander, gave Communist sympathisers in Canton throe days to get out of town in a night. broadcast laet radio After that, he said, he would not guarantee their security.
The broadcast was probably o'med
ants of at correspondents
vernacular nawa Mong Ko papers with Leftist tendencien and at several professore In Local universities whose politics are questionable. The correguol('ente, though their newspapers are banned, have zu far operated without re- striction.-United Press.
newa.
Shanghai, Fighting raged Jean While this battle at Shanghol's
flickered and flared than two miles away. It started backdour
West about 10 am, and was roaring on word from the
defences Into the night.
hinted that the Reds had driven Into a
a point near the Hungjoo have subsided and only an occn- Thousands watched the battle golf course. That puls them at sional burst was audible yester- from hgh tulidings and the least three miles further into the day. streets. Shell bursts set no less suburban aren. The communique than 40 area during the day, claimed the Reds were stopped" at Suine burned for hours.
the man defence line.
Government P-sis and Mos- The Felping radio tonight sald quito bembers alternated In Communist forces, advancing to bombing and straßing. Sometimes the Western area of Shanghai, the Reds answered with ground had captured the International radio station as well as 12 other
ss. Tairea To
Stand By
points.
The Communist radio *n 4 Chinese-language broadcast said the big international radio instul- lation between Nunziang
and Chenju was taken over at noon on May 13,
Lunghwa Airport
Meanwhile, taking advantare of the lull in the sector, the China National Aviation Corporation an- nounced that nine of its plones would land at Lunghwa interna- tional airport all day long to take out evacuces, None of the planes would stop longer than necessary to refuel and embark passengers, i who were notified to stand by at the field.
Off Woosung Reds Take Tsipao technically possibin. Two of 19.
The three-funnel British
steamer Tairen is due to leave
on the
opposite
the
CNAC officials said that they would continue to operate such
fights.
as long as it was
day's fights were to Hong Kong, two to Taipeh, capital of Talwan On the South Western outskirts Island, and one to Chungking. port today for the Yangtseer Shanghat, the Communist cap-
All residents were reported to Entrance on Government as- lure of Telpao, Nationalist
have evacuated the waterfront than six miles signment to evacuate, if pos- stronghold less
Dres of the Yangisepoo, district, wis sible, foreigners still in Shang- South of Hungino Airfield,
officially admitted, but all was which is within range of the Com- hal.
munist guns reported to be quiet in the Woo- Now undergoing refitting in sung area as both sides re-group-bank at Tungkow.
A foreign relugee from
that Nationallst the way of extra accommodation, ed their forces. the Tairea will stand
Military observes belleved that sector revealed by off Wpesung and walt for the eva- the Communist strategy for seiz- troops and guns were deployed ences to board her from every ing China's richest prize was still on the water's edge to repulse
of Woosung to any attempted Red crossing. possible means of conveyance to gain control
close the last Nationalist escape fire of unknown origin was rig- Late this afternoon, large down the Whangpoo.
route and over-run the whole
a sub-ing in the heart of the Yangtse- The Dutch
liner Pootung peninsula for passenger
which is crowded Tjibadak, which lett last week sequent Invasion of the city pro-poo district, on a similar mission to report to per through a series of simultane- with factories and mills and popu- Vice Admiral A. C. G. Madden, ous crossings. Second in Command, Far East Considerable Communist forces who is aboard H.M.S. are sold to have shifted to the Belfast, off Woosung, is due to Pootung area during the past few leave the Shanghai ären today. days through Minghong, 13 miles
South
of Shanghal, where the w enter the port some time The two passenger liners were Beds control both banks of the
this evening. All the arrange- chartered by the Hong Kong] Whangpoo.
The fact that the Reds have ments for berthing and unloading Government to be sent up to the
were being kept secret. North and stand by oft Woosung not been to evacuate
Whangpoo bank na many foreigners through to the as possible who are able to get or seriously threaten the Woo-lich, from Rangoon, the other the
Station
down the Whangpoo,
Both will be under the supervi- sion of Vice Admiral Mødden on their arrival in Chinese waters.
sung
able so for
to break
with
the reopening of the seven-mile lower stretch of the three Vessels Whangpoo river, carrying a total of 19,000 tons of badly needed rice for the city's
six million populace were expect-
One of the vessels is the Hai-
Haitlen, from Bangkok, each with forts from close range caused observers in the Inst few over 8,000 tons of cereals. days to put more official communiques.
credence on
It is evident that the morale
It was explained that the eb of the government troops here is
Reds Leave
ject of the emergency mission higher than ot antlelpated Hankow?
"Is to have a steamer capable of the to plentiful supplies and taking in more than 1,000 pas- food, payment in silver dollars, sengers to help in any mass eva- good medical care and frequent cuation
beleaguered rest periods in some of Shanghai's trom the metropolis,
The Weather
AL DE ONT (2, 3.0. HEST)
the
destruction over the Bén of Japan is, how
in slowly NE a krough stretches aw
acra SH China and Hainan to a deiren rices over Tonkin, Pressure has fallen over
Zuson,
Today's Forecast:--Moderata BW winds predominating Unwrithed with thebday showers, heavy and squally at times..
· Youterday's Weatherin Maximumo1; 61.9 der. Fah. Malmuma 74.3 deg. Fak. Dunshines 4 hours.
Rain 400 mm. 1.1 in. Tolal stass
|
best intels,
Naval Support
Commualet troops were today reported to have withdrawn from Hankow which fell to them early last werk.
Railway, officials in Canton sald the firti nessupo from the big Yangtse port city in more than a A Navy announcement sdid week told of the departure o naval Funs supported ground Heel troops and widespread loot- troops on Sunday by shelling ing
which followed. Red positions in Pootung. It sald Neither
ther government or any
that due to intense fire from the other upencies normally, in con- vessels the ground troops ro- tact with the Yangtse part' have covered Kooching beach yester-received any word confirming the day. This was the first admission railway report.
that the beach was temporarily The report of looting would in- lost.
dicate the departing Communist While no official figures were have left no civil administration available, it is estimated the Noof, any kind behind. tionalists have 20 fighting craft,
On the Klungsi front, the Com- large and small, operating against
muriist rutilo said Nanchang had the Communists around Woosung
been
32. The radio said the Na- captured on the morning of
and the Yangtab toward the Poo-
Jan, 2-142.2 mm.14.38 1s, as | tung side of the river. MERİORS, AN Avetare, of -47LÀ HIM/W 19.44 in...
Bendings s
'Daro, at mal...1908. 1908,0 m.
Бакай
Rel. Humidity Des'. Folot Wind / Dfreeilan
Wind Force
.no
18
6 by 13 °
It was officially claimed today
the Reds suffered to date about
tal of Nanchang
Admiral OSCAR C. BADGER
Evacuation Of U.S. Nationals Discussed
T-
Price: 20 Cântă.
SEIZED OPIUM WORTH
HK$250,000
The big seizure of Indian opium, made by Revenue-In- spectors on Saturday on board the un. Promise, weighed 3,070 taels, it was amelally learned yesterday.
Bakid on the current market rate, the oplum is worth about HK$250,000
►
Revenue Inspectors took four hours to extract the ties of splum from bilges and, other, almost inaccessible places on the vessel which came from Calculta via Bingapors.
Boya werd employed to descend small manholes to bring up the tins of oplum.
The Revenus Department will ask for confiscation of the oplum at the Central Magistracy today.
No arrests have been made.
GOLD CRISIS CHECKED
BY COMMITTEE ORDER
All Kinds of
Portable
TYPEWRITERS
AT REASONABLE PRICE. HONG KONG "TYPEWRITER EXCHANGE
Tel. 21433
9, D'Agullar Bt.
Special Plane Flies GY Notes From Shanghai
Loads of Gold Yuan notes with a face valua
trillions of dollars were flown out of bi leaguered Shanghai for safe-kooping in Car ton by a specially chartered CNÁC plane, th "China Mail" foarned from Captain : T, Sailor, skipper of the aircraft which arrive at Kai Tak yesterday afternoon. Captain Sailor said that his plane, chartered b the Central Bank of China, took off from Taipeh early yesterday morning. He lande at Lunghwa airfield where the brand new an crisp banknotes were quickly transferred t his plane under the supervision of National ist troops.
The Lunghwa soon
The gold crisis on the Gold and Silver Exchange afterwaran and proceeded to
last week, which sot off a wild scramble and sont prices up by 60 per cent, was effective- ly checked on Saturday when the Committed of the Exchange ordered all forward dealings to be stopped for a wook. All outstanding transactions
be liquidated HK$470 à tael for 90 per cent K gold (Industrial gold).
The Committee's decision wan
were
to
The wild scramble for the pre- cious metal was said to have been started by 'outside Interests' who despite ample offerings by holders, continued to buy at any price.
After un-
Canton directly. loading, it came to Hong Kong. Galesburg, linols, told
China Mafl" that all was quiet
Captain Sailor, who comes from the
# Lunghwa Airfield.
"The Nationnist troops have sal,
Observers consider the detim of
take over the whole field. All the Exchange a timely check on
has operational promises," he speculation that the wild
"are now converted into military been going on, based mostly on
billets." Irresponsible rumour,
Three Allied Commandants
Disagree By Saturday some sellers were
'Berlin, May 23. The three Western Allied
"Exercise
Britannia
Camberley, Surrey, May 23
Two hundred high-rankin British army officers met be hind tight security barrier here today to discuss Britain' defence.
The skipper further added that as soon as the commercial air- Tsirteen government depaé lines pulled out of the field fast ments were represented at week, the troops swarmed in and talks, which will last for five day teule over. "The first thing they under the maine of "Exerc clld was to wreck all the instru- Britannia", Royal Navy and A ments in the control tower. Force' observers... attended.
There was, however,
petrol officer under the rank of a major available In the airfield as the general was allowed at today, all companies are still in service, conference, which brought arim "But flying facilities in the pir commanders
home from port have been rendered unsermany, the Middle East, Austri viceable," he said,
and the Far East. Asked if there' were any air- Scientific and other experts WI Craft lying about Lunghwa, the explain during the exercise n skipper sold he saw one. But Ideas in warfare and defendi planes, mosily CNAC and CATC Closely guarded exhibits will, b from Talpot, were landing art shown.--Router. taking off before
ho left. understand, while in Shanghai, including several elderly Euro that the Alaska Airlines, wipeans and three Italian patente.
will be fying in soon," added
Information picked up from. Sallor said that he CNAC pilots, and passengerin Coptain could not determine
Top level discussions
the garding
evacuation of American nationals from South China were held at the Amuri-
be- can Consulate yesterday tween Admiral Oscar C. Bad- ger, Commander of the Unit-confirmed at an emergency general ed States Fleet, Western Paci-meeting of the 270 members of fle, and Mr. George D. Hopper, the Exchange held later in the
evening, Hong Kong Consul-General.
Admiral Badger arrived here yesterday in his flagship, USS EL Dorado, from Tsingtao, accom. panted by USS Rogers, USS LSM and USS L.C.I. (L), to spend a week in the Colony to confer with American consuls of South China.reported to be in a precarious "My specifie reason is to sec oversold position. Rumours had with State Department needs are
that at least two concerns had in evacanting hose who wish to temporarily put up their shutters. leave South Chlan," the Americon The Committee acted promptly Commandants disagreed today fdinirat said after hi meeting by putting a ban on further for whether they should seize con with Mr. Hopper.
ward dealings.
trol of the West Berlin elevat Mr. Lewis Clark,
of Hons cd system An over abundance
from the Soviets Americon, Consul-General, Kong dollars, backed by rumours, despite the week-end rioting fying Kere today to meet the that the
Hong Kong currency in which one was killed and Admiral regarding the evacuation
would soon be devalued, - blamed as the principal cause or 1,200 wounded or injured. programme.
the crisis. The two landing craft, which the
The Commandants met for came with U83 El Dorado, will
Exchange
were still going on,
ng under uncertain- condi he sent up the Pearl River tough on a considerably restrict reaching a decision. They would ported from Shanghai to. Canton. tranapore the evacuees.
ed scale. In the morning the price that time they will consider the ever, "I know for certain that the Mal that officially, the airpor meet again this afternoon. At Looking into the manifest, how- One passenger told the "Chin They are being used because of
went up to as high as HK$580 Genman appeal to elect the Com- sum ran into alx sets of zeros of was closed but planes were usin shallow draft, which their adaptable in the Pearl River. tael, but there was ́¤ drastic!
munist guards from the Western three figures ench," he added. the airatriba ay their own risk.;Į also about-turn in the afternoon, and elevated system. The LCI and LSM will
the evacuation of Meanwhile
The CATC office at Kai Tá bring down Government equip-the, last price reported was down
Reliable reports said the Ames the Northern metropolis is pro- told the "China Mall" that de to $4801 ment and material.
Brigadier ceeding with renewed gusto, with will resume service to Shangh Commandant, General Franic Hawley, was in each plane landing at Lunghwa only "when it is contrdared sup favour of intervening in the being besieged by hundreds seek- ciently safe. blookly three-day-ol railway ing passages for Taiwan, Canton strike "to prevent further blood and Hong Kong. shed and put the city's transport system back in operation."
Canton
'the exort
Yesterday dealings outside the two hourse this morning without face value of the cargo hedicated that Lunghwa airdel wa
First Sign Of Wet Season In HK
The first sign of the coming of the wet season to the Colony was the sudden break in the weeks of fine weather yesterday when more than two inches of rainfall was recorded.
Reform Club To Present Plan
Reform
The plan of the Club of Hong Kong for a re- constituted Legislature will
at presented
pubilo meeting at the Roof Garden, Kong Hotel, at 630
be
Hong
p.m. today.
and cons of tho The pros Plan
will be advanced by Messrs. Marous da Silva, Brook A. Bernacchi, T. 7. Martin and R. A. Webb.
The sky took on a grey look early yesterday morning with rain falling heavily, shortly before 9.30 a.m.
Throughout the day the weather seemed uncertain with sparadie outbursts intermingled with fishes | [of brilliant munshine,
Well in the afternoon, however, the sky become downcast again let Ling loose with heavy rain which lasted for more than two hours,
It was
at this period that the most of the yesterday's rainfall was registered.
rican
These reports sold General
Howloy was opposed by Britain's
Major General George Osbourne
trans-
Hurried Passengers
Three DC4's of the Alaska Air Colon lines will arrive in the the first one early tils momin to service between hers an Shanghal, the "China Mall" learn
Ninety-five hurried passengers ed yesterday from a representa
Hon
and France's Brigadier General packed into two CNAC planes tive of Captain Robert McGuir Jeun Geneval. It was understood which took off for Hong Kong be- Chief of Far Eastern Operation
ia company the British and French want to tween Sunday night und yester- for the airline maintain a hands of policy in day afternoon. The fire plane] Kong. the strike of 15,000 Western Ber-arrived at Kal Tak with 51 of The source emphasised, how
them at 7.45 yesterday.
ever, that the service was beini in railway men.-United Press.
Throughout the day, Kal Tak prranged only because Pe remained quiet with air trame American Airways and the Nort busy mostly on the Canton run. West Airlines have abandone No planes took off for Shanghat their flights to the Red threatens yesterday and it wasn't until the city in the North. last moment that the local alt- It added that there would port knew about the second CNAC ne premium charged, "the rat plane coming in from Shanghai will be standnud," the representa This landed with 44 passengers tive added.
SIR ROBERT KOTEWALL DIES
Sir Robert H. Kotewall, KT; CMG, LLD, died at 11.30 last night at his residence at 61 Conduit Road.
Sir Robert had been suffering. from a heart allinent over aines Occupation,
The late Sir Robert was orin- elpal of the R. H. Katewall and unofficial justice Company, and of the peace, He was also a direc- thorough soaking as the tor of the Chinn Provident Loan and Mortgage Company, of the, hoaviest around 5 p.m. At Kal. Tak airport the planes Hong Kong Telephone Company, operated as usual with only the and of the Chinese Estates Limit Pan American plane for Calcutta ed.
Sir Robert was on the Diocesan being delayed for a short time do Boys' College and the St. Paul's to the
weather. Roads all over the Colony became College committees, unpleasant, steam rising from the scorched grounds and the air be coming increasingly hot,
Many who had started the day without umbrellas and macks. Te celved a All who
rain como Interested in аго the future of Hong Kong as a British Colony governed by a truly representative
body, are cordially invited to dia play their interest by being present at the meeting. They may avail themasives of the opportunity of questioning the speakers on any of the Doints which are to be raised
ECA Aid For
Turkey
On Other Pages
Steam Navigation
Meeting, Correspondence.
The rain, wan, however, welcomed in that it would help fill up the re- servoirs which, according to official figures, supply the populace at the rate of 30,000,000, gallons a day.
With the Colony's population Page 2 awelling rapidly dus to the war 'in North China, the consumption has bean increasing from day to day.
Should the downpour continue Page steadily, there would be no. danger Washington, May 22. of a water shortage as was the cass The Economic Co-operation last year when the mains came only Administration today urged Just in time. At the moment the appropriations for a Turkish reservoirs have enough water to
'cause "Turkey will make, we development programme be-supply the Colony for 40 days, believe, a major contribution
of Klungs), were to the general. European re-
covery."
Another. Hank-Testimony before closed hearings |
30,000 casualties in the battle for withdrawing to the
Shanghai in the past -:-10 days:
JAP GENERAL TO DIE There was no mention of the chow said a Red "unit" with of the Congressional : Appropria- 39.7170.01 Tocheronte West and South West of the support of local guerillar used tone sub-commmelen, disclosed that
Manlia, May 28. the city where the Communists, 200 campana at 7 pm on May 20 the EOA recommended what, it Lieutenant-General Chizuo Yoko. Have slackened their attacks and to cross the Chao-Ngoh River. termed a "minimum" of US$30-yama, commander of Ispanemo sincs throw their weight to the The crossing to the East bank 000,000 for the fecal year of 1066. forces in Manila area in World Poolung side,
took only: 15 minutda according The sasistant deputy administra. War 18; Wallsentenced today to dia Bound of artillery around the to the report. The Reds were how tor, Itchard Bissell, Jr., sino sald before a firing squad. A Philippine pemlater, which have become ativancing East from thelb now he understood that a US$18,000,- military commission convicted alm the familiar, nighi Nõng to Shaira position toward Nuwpa Rautar, 000 loan will bi made by the World on 58 war crimes counts Asso- hai residopia in the past week, United Press and Associated Press. Bank of Turkey,—United Press. ·cinted Press.
Company
Gtatement On Hong Kong De-
fence. Reminders.