1949-04-26 — Page 1

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REDS 35 M. FROM SHANGHAI HMS Consort Here

Britain Sending More Ships

London, April 25.

Britain readied strong raja- forcaments for her Far East. ern Fleet today out of mount. ing concern for the turn of Avents In China,

'Admiralty spokesman Bald undisclosed number of ships is being Dnit to the Navy's Hong Kong base to

reinforce two cruisers, eight destroyers

and four aloops that Britain keeps there now. -Associated Press.

Not To Use Force

Shanghai, April 26.

The British Consul-General in Shanghai, Mr. R. W. Urqu- hurt. torlay dented that force would be used 10 rescue Amethyst.

He was Frleyring 10 report which said that in bts broadenst to the British community on Satur- day night he implied that foren weakl be used,

Mr. Urquhart said that a wrong interpretation had been based on his use of the words “rescue spent. tion."

300,000 Gov't Troops Fall Back On City

REFUGEES POURING IN

Shanghai, April 25.

The vanguard of Red armies advancing along the Nanking - Shang- hai Railway pushed to within 35 miles of Shanghai today as Nationalist forces continued falling back East and South East. This was revealed in a flood of reports, most of which were contra-

dictory and lacking official confirmation, received here today.

A Communist force of unknown strength was said to have occupied Kun- shan, a town on the Nanking-Shanghai Railway 35 miles West of Shanghai, this morning some hours after Nationalist troops had ova- cuated to the East.

An official military spokesman here declared that Nationalist forces are withdrawing in perfect order from the Nanking-Shanghai Railway to the outer perimeter of Shanghai. The total strength of the forces now concentrated in Shanghai, he said, numbered 19 armies total- ling about 300,000 men. He expressed confidence in the strength of Shanghai's defences:

The Shanghai-Hangchow Railway-the last fond escape route of Shang- hoi garrison forces-was still open late this evening, despite carlier reports to the contrary, with the key junction city of Kashing, 75 miles South West of Shanghai, still firmly in Nationalist hands. The Railway administration |ments and talks were in progress. ¡soon as the weather turns fa- announced today that trains If this developa fl expected, vourable for flying were continuing to run to Dr, W. W. Yen, who headed the The North raway station was with two leaving whofficial Shanghat delegation to in a state of confusion as excited Bangchow

Jaden with luggage, this morning for the Cheklang Peiping in February, would again capital, with mostly dependents take over the task of talking to The Admitral had added, "There) of military personnel. no new mer has there ever bevis |

He added that Admiral, ACG. Maddon, send in command us th Far Eastern Station, had pointed out that several peaceful opera- tions were posible.

any intention to play a wapite! PeacefulTurn-Over

operation,"

The British Embassy in Na

king announced last night that this

Communists have refused a cense

The first concrete move to turn-over la fire to allow the rescue of Ame-achieve a peaceful

Shanghai after the fashion of thyst.

China's Pelping and thus save

possible largest port city from heavy destruction is ni present under way, pecording to a Kun- mintang source close to high Na- tonalist oficial this morning.

With about 69 men süll on board. Amethyst has born unable to move up or down River. She wax inst re- ported 150 miles East of Nanking. from The

signala latest Amethyst state that she had a quiet night and that the crew was an good heart.

and

11

nt

boy Two wounded, staker, who landed from the ship, It is have not yet been located.

be that they may thought Changchow, South of Chinkfang. bat efforts to contnet them by telp phone have proved un-uccessful Pruter and Associated Press.

the Reds about peace.

Unconarmed reports this morn-

passengers.

ought to get seats on the trains to Hangchow, along the only open read out of the elly.

ing claimed that part of the local Financial Markets

carrison were already evacuating

the city by rall and road.

En-po,

Commander

vertible

currency

Official confirmation a atac

markets The cily's financial

and banka so far unobtainable to reports were at a standstill circulating among

foreign were paying out, little cash, United diplomatic circles that General States dollar-slumped further, in Tan

of value in terms of Chinese"sliver the Nanking-Shanghai-Hang, dollars, which were regarded. chow garrison area, had already likely to be the most readily con- Jeft Shanghel and that Com

should the munists had effected a landing Communists take over the city.

Silver dollars at Lluho which is only about

were according- The report cannot at present be

reat demand and conttrmed from any other quar 22 miles North West of Shangly in great

many told Reuter

from the country. ter but the source

brought sefugees lending Shanghal Indus

supplies of rice to exchange for that

Tension trialists, after successfully

was already rising these coins. The price of rice Headquarters | Incolly pressing Gurrison

but there had been no dropped as a result hut the cos Garrison of most other commodities scared that a local selllement would be disorders of any kind. the best way out for all, had a forces were alding the police in further as the propic continued the Communis maintaining order capecially into Jay In supplies against an ready contacted queras and underground ele the outlying areas which were emergency.

besieged by an unending stream of refugees pouring in from the suburbs.

People In Shanghai Awaiting Change

Prices of commodities in Shanghai are going down steadily and people in Shanghai are hoping for a peaceful liberation, said a newly-arrived passenger from that panic stricken city yos- terday.

their grubby from Nan- luggage alongside The evacuation king by the Nationalists did fingered, more soberly drossed sin to upset optimistic ters of humbler estate. There were the re-children too, ranging in age from people in Shanghui, fugee suid However, on Sun- about six months to teen-agers,

One of the rumoura circula- day night when the news of

was that the Nationalist evacuation from Wuhsi reached that port city, they began to feel really worried.

not stem

ting during the day wal

Generalisalimo Chiang Kai-shek Shanghai. would arrive from

A check-up at the airport fall. ed to yield any evidence of his arrival or intended arrival. One septar like passenger of a CNAC plane said that Com-

It was a busy day for everyone munists or Nationalists are not and everyone was glad to see the what the Shanghailanders want. day end

Probably nobody What they want is peace.

was gladder, Since Sunday night the situa-though, than the people in the Cun- lun in Shanghal became tense.trol Tower at Kal Tak. Yesterday Middle class people were taking was an ail-thno record-breaking whatever they can get their hands day for then, with 44 commercial on and leave for the rural dia- planes arriving and 43 taking off.

Despite the fact that Shanghat

tricts.

is almost surrounded and it has

a population of more than 0,000,- 000 there seemed to be more food in the market than several weeks ago, one house-wife said,

Philippine Senate Head Suspended

She believed that it was be- cause food merchants were aware that the Communists hate hour-

Manila, April 25, ders and above all they still have

The Philippine Senate today not yet forgotten what the Na-

President tionalist propagandta had preached suspended Senate

for a year towards Joso Avelino Red attitude about wealthy merchants.

charges of misconduct. "Maybe wo should not have The Senato vote was 11-8.

Avelino was accused of income left Shanghal," one old sair, "but

I rather be a 'White Chinese' than # Red."

on

tax evasion, unconstitutional uno

hai.

All local public and private colleges ap:l schools decided to suspend classes for the time be- ing and armed sentries have been posted at several national uni- versities including Chinon and Futan Universities in the North- emn suburb of Klangwan

the

in

Thousanda of young people fearful of more austere condi. Mions under the, Communists packed cinema. restaurante and cabareta. Many thought that the cinemas might bc showing foreign aims for the last time and that dancing

HMB, Consort arrived, here fast evening for complete re- pairs to damage sustained after her gun dach with Chinese Rad shore batteries in the Yagine when she attempted to reach the grounded stoop Amethyst last week-("China Mai1 Photo),

Pictured are some badly dainaged parts of the British destroyer which was riddled mainly on her super structure. (Above) Covered by tarpulin (a farge hole, caused by a 105 mm, shall which expladad in the wheel house, killing the coxswain outright and disabling the main stoering trol.-("China Mai" Photo),

con-

HMS Consort Back From River Duel

would not be permitted by the HMS Consort reached the Colony last evening still

Communists.

bearing the effects of heavy Chinese Com- munist artillery fire which she sustained when attempting to

grounded aloop aid the Amethyst last week in the Yangtse,

An unusual number of cars ap- Garrison troops havu oreupléd

premises of the American peared in the streets flying red. missionary St. John's University Bags-not Communist flags-bu

the Western

for the Chinese symbol of a wedding suburb strategic reasons."

Shortly for many couples had advanced

afier the British not discernible, damage done to Stationing of

berthed alongside them could not be estimated, the date of their marriage because destroyer troops was also explained as a

"The Reds fired the first shot at precautionary measure to prevent of the ominous military situation. the North Arm in the Naval student agitation.

Employees of many firms ar Dockyard, several small fires about 12.30, in brilliant sunshine. demanding severance pay started on board, which were We were flying seven, Ensigns and ligation on employers in Chin promptly put out by the craft's the Union Jacks.. There could be to

no mistake as to oud'identity. We pay

minimum of thres

retaliated extinguishers. months wages when an employee

after three minutes Electricni wiring insulation was when the Tiring continued," he is dismissed.

demaged by shrapnel during the declared. (Continued on Page 14)

100-minute

between wun duel HMS

Consort

Communist shore batteries. The fires broke out as soon as the shore power line Wils connected 10 the destroyer.

Refugees Pour In

Thousands of Chinese refugees

Were today streaming into Shang hal before the advancing Com- munist armies. The rich came in"

shining new cars and poor pen- sants came on foot, treading hand arts or pushing wheel-barrows.

The refugees brought very- thing they would carry or move, clothing, cooking utensils, furni- ture and poultry, Many canie from villages which had been destroyed

during the Sino- Japanese Bghting for Shanghai in 1937, and they were determined not to be caught between two fires

again. Under torrentiul raina, they ncoded dismally into the city streets. which in many plages were choked with traffic. "Move- 'ment of Nationalist military vehicles In vicinity also produced a terrife traffic jam, which took about three hours to unravel.

Thousands of people arowded shipping, airways offers sock. Ing passagen abroad.

of his office for personal, today reiterated the earlier re-

The Executive Yuan offico hero

evacuation of all

Kal Tak at dick last night was advocating graft and corruption port that the * confusion of crying babies, and tolerating election fraude, ninekod luggage and milling pro- The Senate vote that evidence Government officials from Shang-

ple, an planes from Shanghai ar- gathered in the investition, off

be

prosecution.

hai should be completed before April 28.

Two ships have been chartered by the Executive Yuan to trans- Avelino was the second ranking port the employees of the Yunn The

at Kal Tak crowd at

Tak sommed figure in the Philippine Govern- and their dependents to Taiwan. to represent a good cross-action mont

those who were leaving Shang-

Any

rived with large numbers of peo handed over to the ple evacuating from that Confmun-Justice for criminal prosec

at-threatened city.

of

tomorrow

Avelino was did not attend his ready to departer io-

and the other the morrow.

At the same time, several char-

hal. Gownet, bewhiskered: man-own political funeral, told the derins with little black skull cups Press that he expected to be rubbed shoulders with Chinese and vindicated by the people in the tered planes are standing ready American businesstnem in: Western | coming November alection long at Airfields to take higher "goy- dress, “Well - droosad, bafewalled before, the period of gpspensión ernment offelais from ihrestored woman scrambled to idenal” hair, expired. Associated Preše

Shanghai-direct to Canton, un

a

STOP PRESS

Bhanghai, April 28. The Shanghat Garrison au- thorities today suspended the publication, from tomorrow, of the British-owned "North China

Daily News," understood that objection was taken to Reuter war summery published this morning by the newapasati

It was

The Assistant Editor of the Dally Nowa, George Vine, and Graham

Jenkins, Router Correspondent and writer of the' despatch,

the went to Garrison Omes this afternoon. and efforts to contact · them since have been unavailable. Mr. Vine want at the ra quest of four Garrison off- cials who called at the news. paper's

office this morning. The colonel whom he was ' told to and was not than pre- sent and Mr. Vine returned this afternoon.

accompanied Mr. Jenkins Mr. Vino voluntarily. It was“ believed that Me: Vins is bes ing held overnight, but it was not known what "action? If any, was being taken in the cais of Mr. Josking."

Two other English-language Chiness /

►*, nawegkpers, · both

owned, al punbilahed Mr. Jenkina” despatch, but it was undarated that- ne--astlen had been taken against them.....

Router.}

anti

Personnel of other HMS craft gave rousing cheers as the bullet- riddled destroyer steamed Into

"Several

Bras occurred as a result of the bursting shells in. side the destroyer. Two major outbreaks considerably damaged the Instruments.

The gyro, wireless apparatus and control equipment suffered badly.

"The 'wounded on the sloop, which was grounded by the same

the Basin, with her empty artil-fted artillery are, could be seen lery shells. packed on the No. 2 ori the quarter deck.

tärrel-evidence of her re-

itun

wounded members

of

tallation.

Three HMS Amethyst were among the first to innd. According to them, high-level instructions forbade any Interview with the Press, The three men, with bandages, looked cheerful and were visibly relieved to disembark. A military nmbulanco' took them away im- mediately.

We ma

Harge runs to get through 1

barrage to reach her. But when it became futile, we left,' he said.

The Weather

At 0606 GMT (3. p.m.' HKRT) the high Commander 1.G. Robertson, presstire riden from the Pride. anti who suffered several shrapnel cyclone persista across the 8 China sen.

A couples trough extends from By wounds on his leg, arrived yester-China aeroan the Eastern Bea to the E of day with his ship.

Japan. In K, depressions are dentred 'to the W of Shanghel, and Hokkaido,

Today'

winde. Forecast ---Laht - BW Weather continuing fair or filejeand mazni.

Yesterday's Weather pos Hailmum; 85.0 deg. Fah. Minimumi 74.6 deg. Fab, Bunshinei 110 hours.

In an informal interview, An ofcer stated that 10 men were killed and about 40 wounded out of the 180-man personnel of the ship.

Firing Point Blank

"The Reus were firing poms. Rainfall blank

ut us and mo of the damage was sustained internally,"

he reinted

3

NIL

I- Total since Jan. 124.7 mm.8.62 Int. as DENİNİ AD average of 241.4 mmas10.00 Ing,

Headings at

Readings at

"Shalls collected In the nam at mal. *...15184 1000.m.b. dentroyer were of three types---

Equals

37 mm.. 76 mm) and 150 mm. Ret. Muridity (He declined to specify whether Dew Tint they are Ruselan or American Wind Direction

Wind Forew producta) |

We could see the shore guich emplacements and about eight of Those were flance by our gums. Low As batteries further in land were)

17.30 23.61 Inches.”

74.

78 dae. r.

7 knots,

_WBW._WBW

7,

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Non-Essential Britons To Quit Shanghai

Shanghai, April 25. Declaring that it seemed prudent to reduco com- mitments in view of the prolonged period of business inactivity, the British Consul-Gen-" oral, Mr. R. W. Ürquhart, last night issued a -notice informing the British community that all possible help would be given to women, children and men who had no essen- tial jobs to foave the city.

Emergency accommodation could be provided at Hong Kong for a short period pending on- ward passage. to a destination, he said, but this accommodation "must necessarily be of an austere character."

He made it clear, however, | **** that the British Ambassador. Sir Ralph Stevenson, did not favour any general evacuation. Mr. Urquhart said in the notles gued that after consultation with 'he Committeca of the British Chamber of Commerce and the Telish Residents' Association, and

aking their advice, he had de- cided that at this stage it was Kivisable to "thin out our num- rs, first because Shanghai is Now in the war zone and, second.

economic reasons, Present economic difficulties in Shangha! were serious and in future there might well be an- other period of business inactivi- It therefore, seemed prudent tý.

to reduce commitments.

The Policy Committee of the British emergency planners had accepted this view in principle but they did not think I was Justified in putting an emergency plan inte operation.

"They ask me to make clear

Damage To British Property

London, April 24. The Pareign Office said today that the rioting · In Nanking caused some damage to Bri-` tlah commerala)

property. Foreign Office reported that government property was not. harmed. All British subjects- were described as "auto" and. woll."

The Foreign Office received Itw Information from Bir Ralph Stevenson, British Am- basador at Nanking—United-1 Press.

that it is still their pollay to nơ- (a partųras in recent months and;

viso people who have osvantix!! Jobs to stay put," Mr. Urquhart, raid in his notice.

reduced by fairly heavy de

that the total 3,500.

now stand

The Australian and Canadian consulates published identical Ambassador Consulted notices in the morning

news

Mr. Urquhart continued, 'I con-

papers: "Due to the rapid serlos sulted His Majesty's Ambassador to events which has taken this evening, telling him that Canadian (Australian) Vice-Can-

the past few days," within there are suitable, sailings in the sulate I might wishes to hezë futuro. In his reply he' stalos,

mind.... '7 xee no objection to those who that normal transport-

tall Canadian (Australian) desire to do so taking the bion facilities may not be avali pertunity leave on any ́sult-

جيا

30. soon

Able ship that may happen to be able in the near future and no In the harbour.

essential persons planning The British Consulate-General leave should...do today opened a special.ofice ta applications for assistance

receive

|possible."

U.S. Warships

RD

in obtaining emergency trans- The United States Consulat 2-| portation out of Shanghai.

General announced that American Only a comparatively few ap-warships in the Whangpoo will ha plications, mostly from women|withdrawn to the Lower Yangise) und children, had been received and that accommodation aboard

midday.

will be available for a At the same time the Passport number of

of the om. visas to other foreign nationals, portunity to live aboard the ship most of whom desired to go to to await developments.

The statement said that thom At the present time it appeared not desiring or not able return to that

adequate

shipping would be Shunghai will be routed onwert: available throughout the present by commercial shipping or week. The Consulate was,

Hong Kong and Japan for further

Office is extremely busy Issuing to avail 16 WELVES Who want

Hon, Kong.

fore, compiling lists of applicu-routing

of those who wished to salt. These lists would be handed to shipping

with a Con- companies sutinis request that they be given passages.

They will remain concentrated until any emergency passed or will be evacuated if the necessity arises.

It is understood that British nationals have already teen

по

in

The statement added, “Ameri- can citizona will appreciate that. when these facilities are no tonger avaliabid further facilities of any kind can be provided by the American au thorities for the protection of American citizens in Shanghať and they must be proparod to, remain here." Reuter and Associated Press,

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