1949-04-22 — Page 1

Page

For

Portraits of Distinction

FRANCIS WU'S STUDIO

Gloucester Arcade.

CHINA MAIL

No. 34260.

ESTABLISHED FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS

HONG KONG, FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1949"

REDS CROSS THE

ADMIRALTY STATEMENT ON NAVAL ACTION

that sha

London, April 21.

In

The last of an Admiralty statement an naval sation in China follows:

"HMB Amethyst reports

anchored satisfactory position and betleves herself capable of 17 knots, It would be clearly undesirable for her to attempt to run the gauntlet of concentrated fire at the present moment.

"HMS London and Black Bwan attempted earlier today to pass through the danger are in order to reach Amethyst, but met strong hostile fire and the Admiral decided that con- tinued advance could only be undertaken at the expense of considerable ca

canumities. "tt in

is apparent that the 50 or 60 mon who were landed yesterday from Amethyst on the Bouth bank have reached the village of Changshow, and there is every reason to sup.

they are

and being cared for and will be sent by Fall to Shanghai.

"HMB Belfast and Constance are now on passage to ghai in case their services may also be required in the

and and HMS Consort has arrived at Shanghai, having made the passage under emergency steering only.

pole

Bhanghai aren,

"Every attempt le being made to establish communication with the hostile forces now tying between Amethyst, Londen and Black Swan to obtain an assurance of clear passage."—— Associated Press.

British Warships Entitled To Be In The Yangtse

London, April 21.

A Foreign Office spokesman told a news confer- ance today British warships are entitled to be in the Yangtse where Chinese shore bat- teries fired on them.

"Britain is entitled to send warships into China's inland waters, provided it has the consent of the Chinese Government-which it has,' spokesman said.

"the

"IL has that right in the Government and to protect big

the Chinese business investments.". that same way

The "Worker" demanded that Government has the right to

forces and send her warships up the River "ali British military Thames with the permission of naval craft be withdrawn from

Chino now."-Associated Press. the British Government."

1

Communist Askerl Whether authorities-whose troops control the North bank of the Yangtse- had been formed that British : ships were moving up the Yang- be, he replied:

well are "The Corankunists aware that our ships were pro- revthing up the river-something? that they have heen doing since last October."

time,

No U.S. Navy Movement

Tokyo, April 21.

Four British Warships Shelled By Communists

GOVT ARMY TO RESIST

NANKING, APRIL 21.

COMMUNIST Forces today STORMED ACROSS THE YANG- TSE 80 MILES SOUTH WEST OF NANKING AND MEAN- WHILE OPENED A GENERAL OFFENSIVE AGAINST NA- TIONALIST NORTH. BANK BRIDGEHEADS AS THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY.

A Ministry of National Defence spokesman said that the Communists He have crossed the Yangtse at Tikang, 80 miles South of here. said the assault made was of unknown strength.

One report from foreign military quarters said that 30,000 Communists have reached the South bank. But there was as yet no official denial or confirmation.

Earlier, a top-ranking general in the Ministry of Nationalist Defence said that a number of crossings have been made in the general Wuhu region. Telephone contact made with civilians in Wuhu disclosed that no news of landings in that region have reached the popula-

tion as yet.

General Tang En-po, Commander of the Nanking-Shanghai Garrison, has gone to Wuhu to direct the Nationalist defence of the South bank of the Yangiso.

Government troops were counter-attacking the Reds on the South side of the. river. Nationalist planes and gunboots were rushing to the as- The Government was believ- sistance of the Nationalist defenders. ed to have no more than 40 planes to throw into the fight. Other crossings of the river were reported at Wuhu, 60 miles South West of Nanking. One foreign military report said 30,000 Reds were over the river. This has not been confirmed.

Reds' Order Of The Day

In a joint communique broad- cast this afternoon by the Com munist radio, Mao Tse-tung and Chu Teh Commander-in-Chief ordered the Red armies to "ad- vance and liberate all of China." The order was addressed to both the Communlat regulars and Red guerillas

South operating in China.

The ordes of the day told the Red armies to sweep forward In

that will an offensive

protect

would be unacceptable to both Government officials were mak- the Nationalist Army and the ing preparation to evacuate their people, The reply charged that front points all along the threa- the entire propcred agreement lened Yangtze River line. "smacks of Communist control of the entire nation."

milltary

Here in Nanking, Acting Presi- ordered the dent L Taung-jen

*** | Ministry of Communications to

for the evacuation prepare Government officials.

Rejection Confirmed

The

Nanking, April 21. Nationalist Govern. ment today offcialty confirm ed that the Communists have rejected their counter-pro-

posals for paste.-Reuter.

Terms Unacceptable

Chinese Press dispatches

TC-

ported that the seat of the Klang-

su Provincial Government is bo-

Ing moved from Chinking. 35

ther South to Socchow, midway

between

I on the rail ghal and Nanking

Price: 20 Cents.

́All Kinds of

Portable TYPEWRITERS

AT REASONAÏLE PRICE.

HONG KONG TYPEWRITER Exchange

9, 'Agullar 81.

Tel. 21433

YANGTSE

HMS London Fired On

SUNDERLAND AIRCRAFT STOP PRESS

CONTACTS AMETHYST

into it night Royal Naval authorities here announced that the Sunderland aircraft which left Hong Kong"yester- day morning, succesfully landed on the Yangtze at 5.20 p.m. local time and transferred medical requirements to Amethyst.

Detalls of casualties In Amethyst wars still not available. Unconfirmed reporte ranching Hong Kong from Shangtial stated that the Bundorland was fired on white in the vicinity of the ship but succeeded in returning to Shanghal.,

HMS London,

Consort, Black Swan Also Hit

Shanghai, April 21.

miles North East of Nanking, fur- The British cruiser London and the sloop Black Swan steamed for Shanghai late today after engaging Communist shore guns below Nanking on the Yangtse River.

Borated Armed:

Ona

Non-essential Government-per-

have.

been already South from Hankow. report said that General Pai Chung-hsi's Central China Command was preparing to remove its headquarters South to Changsha, capital of Hunan.

The United States Embassy in Nanking also began to evacuate the threatened Nationalist Capital.

Vice Admiral R. S. Berkey, Commanding Naval Forces in the Far East, sald no move Chino's sovereignty and territorial The Liberal London newspaper ment jot naval forces to China integrity and instructed them to "News Chronicle" said today waters from this area is con- seize the war criminals, particu- } *** Britons will ask why the British templated on account of the farly Chiang Kai-rhek. ships shelled by Communists on outbreak of fighting along the The announcement by the Com- thy Yangtze River yesterday were Yangtse.

munist chieftain: left some room. Iravelling on the river at this

"Vice Admiral Oscar C. Badger for negotiation on the basis of the

forces has sufficient

In Chiau Red surrender terins,

Thirty-eight of the Embassy 44 Morino guards were suddenly The per said Britons

waters to take care of Amerkan will

It stipulated that if any local

The statement expressed belief

evacuated to Shanghai by plane want to know est how our ships interests at this time," said Ad- came to get mixed up in a Com-miral Berkey, who has just re-region is willing to make peace

tumed from a tour of Far East on the basis of the proposed Com that the Government, which has today, leaving only six to guard

inle every effort to achieve an the Embassy on the inside. munist agreement. then such a

Hellable reports sald the Em- Naval bases,

Both Northwest Air Lines and settlement will be accepted. It equitable perce settlement, could

would issue an Pan American Airlines' Far East also said that it the Government not accept the agreement, because ern Headquarters hore said re-is still in Nanling when the Red-instead newed gunlire along the Yangtse forces surround the capital, then would lead to further bloodshed

the

Nationalist nationals in Nanking to evacuato people and

any *****immediately by

available has not altered normal air trafo Nationalist leaders will be given as

commercial transportation. at Shanghai da yet-Associated another opportunity to sign the Army rebelled against in terms. The Government polated out Press,

agreement.

that the agreement in effect pro- vides for "total elimination of the Kuomintang was issued because the Nanking Nationalist Army through amal-

Into the gamation

Communist had rejected the Government

munist offensive across the river which is apparently what hap- pened.

Was it absolutely

necessary for Amethyst to make her voyage to Nanking at just this time?"

Conservative "Daily The Graphic" said the vessels were in the Yangtse by right to protect Brits lives. If sald It was glad British sailors returned the shore fire

The Asiatics should not get the idea that the British flag and all that it stands for can be safely

Princess Is

insulted at will."" the "Graphie 23 Years Old

said.

The runs of British ships

have delivered n. warning to Asla through its length and breadth."

it unswered its

own question-to bring pressure

on the corrupt servile Chinese

day rule:

for

,

The communique said the order

of a lusting peace. It bassy shortly

other advice to American

agreement formulated in Poiping forces and politically to place the Committee The agreement was said to em- Government only, at the beck and body generous treatment of the call of the Communist military war criminals, Nationalist armed headquarters.

Fifty casualties were reported aboard the two vessels, the third and fourth British naval craft to be hit in the renewed Chinese civil war.

+

Behind them they left the crippled sloop Amethyst

which they had sought to aid. Amethyst had '. 17- dead and 30 to 40 wounded aboard, sur- vivors who reached here said late today. Among Amethyst's wounded was her captain.

"London and Black Swan were In port here undergoing re-

to reach Amothyst pairs for damage caused by unable yesterday's battle is the des- evacuate the wounded to safety heavy Are dia- owing to continued troyer Consort, which charged 16 wounded and 18 cacountered in the vicinity. (Continued on Page 14) dead.

The

.London, 10,000-ton fourth British naval vessel to be hit in two days of fighting

In Canton the Kuomintang between British naval forces

Executive Committee

ນ

and the Reds, had gone to the aid of the shell-damaged sloop Amethyst.

short

forces and Clovernment officials. In ancuding, the Government Central

The announcement charged that statement asked the Communtats prepared to welcome Generalis- London, April 21.

the agreement ha

had not been acto change the motivating-pinat sime Chiang Kai-shek back to Princess Elizabeth is 23 years cepted because the Nanking Gov-and reconsider the contents of the resume the leadership of the

London's eight-Inch guns went The Communist "Dally Work-old today.

ernment still obeys the American agreement out of respect for the Nationalist Armics today as the er" asked why British forces were

Goverment dug into action after at least 27 Britons The heiress presumptive to the imperialists and the Kuomintang prople's rest to join the Gov- for last-ditch resistance against had been reported killed in the

interests. The Commun- Nationalist in China at all.

British throne celebrates by chieftain,

in Chiang Kai-slick,

action with the running lunching at Buckingham Palace their effort to prevent the libera-ernment in the early conclusion the Communist drive

A tense atmosphere

batteries. with the Prime Ministers, of the tion of the. Chinese people and of a cease-fire agreement. British Dominions she may one the rettleinent of domestic pro- the reply was signra by Acting the elty as Deputy Premier Wu

Nanking Black Swan And Consort They fare in. London, blems by peaceful moans."

President Li Taurs-Jen and Pre-Te-chen arrived from

Ho Ying-chin.

and immediately plunged into a a Commonwealth conference.

པས་་

·Kid- with of Na-series of Later today. the Minister The Princess is

conferences

Other ships hit by the Red shall spending the

pected to issue a proclamation to officials who have remained in East of Nanking, are the sinop all Nationallet forces holding posi- Canton since the previous Gov- Black Swan and the destroyer There are no special publiu Meanwhile, the Government slons along the 1,000-mile Yangtse ernment Influx in January. Consort, Mare British naval forces Office released the South bank to defend themselves The CEC has ordered a large were reported on their way to observances, but flags are flying Information

number of posters and handbills the Yangtze to give support. From on all pubife «buildings.

full text of the reply made yes against any Communist attacks. Princess Elizabeth's infant son, terday to the Conumunists through Unconfirmed rumours here way proclaiming the peoples desire Hong Kong the destroyer Con- Prince Charles, was left at her the Government delegation in that Yunnan to

ny, to. Hangchow "thir | nations ; member Kù Chip

In an all-out fight, while the river, the 4 coreblex destramelots 14 movies country home for the day. Also Peiping. The release was made as on return to lead the glance was reported steaming to all branches of the Government evening to confer with Gener retaining in Napking made pro-itsalmo Chiang Kai-shek regard-ting, was set to fly to Chikow paration to evacuate their

ing preparations to resist the ex- pier sonnel to Canton.

The Weather

AL 1610 GMT 13 p.m. XKBT) = ridge

of high pressure untende from Manelurim

to Bauthern Indo-China. To the W* Depresalon has formed arey

Kastwarde werow Central Japan,

יד

afternoon with her husband, the Government Reply urns Detenes in Nunking is, ax-minting and other Government are in the battle six miles North

Duke of Edinburgh, answering letters of congratulation.

ciated Press,

Today's Forecasti=-Light winds from »

Southerly quarter. Fate. Warm.

Yesterday's Westberi

Maximum: 140 dem. Pub

-Minimumt 78,8 saw. Puh...‚'

-Bunshine: 8.3 boura.

Rainfall H. Total alhoe Jan'1-

2, 8740 mmuzda be, de agatok”sa

naveraze ot, 2448. moms).0) (

* Rondīnah al-

10 ... Dpt.

Bare, at mA,L

Kai, Hymidity

Dew. Poina'day. Wind Direction. Wind Faroe Tides on

・

EARTHQUAKE,

IN CHILE

Santiago, Chile, April 21.

The Gevérument reply to the Communiata described the Com

pected crossing of the Yangtze Iliver,

munist proposed memomenta Evacuation Of

"tantamount, to the disposal of it.

The earthquake which rocked the conquered by the conqueror.

South-Central Chile on Tuender what is intended to be peate Nanking

A Nanking British Embai

to talk with Chiang, per-spokesman said neither London or the sloop Black Bwan had been

to reach the whether oble

crippled L

uncertain Chiang

would accept the leader Amethyst. ship from which he voluntarily The Shanghai

'Deftliks Navel stepped down early in January. Omce, announced both London Although Kuomintang SOURCES

and Black Swan, had given up here seemned conident he would. They said: Chiang has remained efforts to reach Amethyst anc illent locote in order not to had retired to Kiangyin, Chines Nuvy port, downriver from the pate urīno lase in its severity thin The Presidents of the Live prejudice the peace negotiation, sane of the action. The Ministry of Interior din durender Instrumet vinduansthe most, important or

failure of the talks due Aboard London was Vice- 45 of thom; kitad wars pilsoniary batween nations,” Cal

intransigence Communfaki.. in the falls at Traiguges), and

gans of the Nationalist Governor Towny for his return mírai A.C. G. Madden, second in Angui. "These two - Sawday about 1, the Government plated", that | ment--met in Nariking this faoris 350 miles South; of here, were the even if ti should sign tho agreeing and decided to #gend-lap the Swith; the full port of the command of the British Far East- Bentres of the quake AmtOGLELES AUTREE Is "surrow-minded · at- svacuation of the Government t | Chinese poopid-Associated Press een station.

Sand Reular. oppressive splitt"| Canton

sight killed:87 persons and ine Tül sefulorpent of a domestle dia=

27, 1937 Inakes. | Jureci !150,-

وية

The official

mènt said!!

to

Bhanghai, April 21.

An unofficial but reliable aðurce

tonight stated that HMB London suffered 15 dand and 17 wounded and Black Bwan, one dead and the nume of wounded is unavail-

London

ber

able.

the

hos 12 holes on port side and is well- spattered by machine gun bullets.

London's Chinese pilot was among those killed. Theed

the qurce bring

present casualties in the four ships lo 43. killed nų" 82. Injured.- Reuter-AAP

Nanking, April 21,

A party of four, Including two doctors, sucecarded, In reaching the Amethyst to render frat ald to the injured" members of the crow, accord. Ing to massages from Takuna. 60 inlles East of Nanking,

Shortly after 6.00 p.m. the party of four boarded the ves sol. The party is believed to

altach comprise the Military alta

from the

the British Embassy 1693 Nanking, Lieutenant-Colonel R. V. Dewar-Durlon, the As

Naval Attache, #letant British

Lieutenant-Commander 3.8. Kerans, United

United States Sur Lieutenant-Commander d. W. Packard from Nanking,

Hectar and another

nema is unknown. -

whose

About the same time as the party boarded the Amethyst, Edward Youde,. firat accretary` of the British Embany in erosend the Yangjan Nanking, to Pukow to begin his trak Northward to the Rad lines to contact the Red headquarters, on the North

bank.

Takang messages tonight said that 17 of the Amethymi parsonnel wera killed, eight Berlously,

Injured and 18 injured, Casualty list of 40-—Reuter,

lightly

Your Ginger Dry Ale

WATSON'S

course

30

CENTS

total