1949-04-22 — Page 1

VOL. IV NO. 93

en, te endale at

Per me on Felay of

SOUTH CHINA MORNING TOST, LTIL/

"eflater ena Pubusier

The

Today's Weather Light winds from a southerly quarter. Fair apart from early morning coastal mist,

Noon Obcervallons! Barometric pressure, 1010.2 mbs., 30.01 In. Temperature, 70.9 deg. F.. Dew point, 71 der, F. Relative humidity, 84. Wind direclion, East, Wind force, 12 kits.

Low water; 1 ft, 7 in. at 1.35 a.m. (Saturday). Xligh water: ft. 8 in. at 6.03 p.m.

Hongkong Telegraph.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1949.

Dino

At the

For

P.G.

Reservations

Price 20 Cents

Tel: 27880

REDS WITHIN THREE MILES OF NANKING

Ship Radios Launch Attack On A

SOS

Mania, Apr. 22-RCA falereepled u ekstrems call trom Klugapore Radio saying that the Tunk- nan, kallig from Wenchow to Foochow, hill a ručk

during for and was in a "very dangerous" slivation. The message said, "Want to kave pantengers from danger."

I added that the ship's original SOS was sent at 0.40 p.m. Thursday. The

position was given as 27.04 N. and 120.56 Fe-United ire!m,

Accused Of Murdering Five Women

Colome, Apr. 21.-A Ger- man waitress accused of murdering five women, ad- mitted in court today that she doped them with nar- cotics and ther, robbed them. "But I only intended to steal, I never worted to murder," Frau Swink, aged 37, Insisted.

to

"only gave my drugs women who looked well and to whom it seemed the drugs would do no harm," she said.

Narrow Front

PUCHENG REPORTED TO HAVE FALLEN

Nanking, Apr. 22.—A Nationalist military source said today that the Communists fought to within three miles of Nanking. He said an attacking force of unascertained strength started to drive on a five-mile front two to three miles north of Nanking. He said that heavy fighting was at present in progress from little northwest. Pucheng. Pukow is directly opposite Nanking and Pucheng is three miles north of Nanking.

An unofficial source said that Pucheng has fallen to the Com- munists but the report was not yet confirmed officially. The loss of Pucheng and Pukow would bare Nanking even to Communist rifle fire. It was believed that the intensifying Communist drive against the bridgeheads defending Nanking was designed primarily to push artillery within easy firing distance of Nanking's two airfields and railway stations, thereby to bottle up the government officials' routes of escapes to Canton.

Railway stations and airfields were said to be already

within

the range of Communist artillery but thus far there was no shelling presum- ably because the Communist artillery was busily engaged in supporting the

infantry.

titis

An eyewliness said the Com- President Li Tsung-Jen ori | LAST DITCH FIGHT munisis

fired ginally announced that he would evening severni Bares from north meet the press on Friday Pucheng to the river bank, morning, but Inter cancelled the Full-dress evacuation of the meeting because of a sudden

scheduled to plan to government was start on Friday but official meeting-United Press. circles predicted that the Com Frau Swinka ia accused of robbing 40 women in many munists would not make an in-

mediate

technique: she

attempt

10

cross

hold an emergency

Nanking. Apr. 21.-It was reliably learned today that Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek has placed all military, political and

economic power in the hands of Acting President Li Tsung-jen to lead a last ditch fight to save China from Com- munism.

capturo

Communist

เพ

Riots In Asmara

Tel-Aviv, Apr.' 21.-Un- confirmed reports reaching here today from Astara, capital of Italy's formuer Red Sea colony of Eritren, wald a number of fallans bad

been killed aud wounded. In racial riots there,

The African population was demanding the evacua- tion of all Europeans and a union with Ethiopia, the reports sald. They added flint 1 curfew had been Imposed on all Europeans except the mliliary.

Neuter's

correspondent

at Asmara reported on April 11 that Brilish troops were patrolling the town after an Italian had been shot by Eritreans. A cur- few was expected.

Earlier, the British ad- ministration in Erfirea hadi outlawed the youth section of the "Eritrea to Ethiopia" Party on the round that it had carried on sub- versive activity likely to

endanger public -Kcuter.

security.

Karens Fly White Flag

RAF Rocket Firing Planes Alerted To Stand By For Yangtse Action

FIFTEEN MEN KILLED ON THE LONDON: TOTAL CASUALTIES: 42 DEAD, 60 WOUNDED

London, Apr. 21-Rocket firing Royal Air Force planes operating against Malayan insurgents have been alerted for possible action against the Chinese Communist forces battering British' war- ships on the Yangtse River.

The disclosure was made after the Admiralty announced that the Communist shore batteries on the Yangtse had forced two British warships to return to Shanghai with damages and casualties after preventing the vessels from reaching the disabled sloop, Amethyst. It was understood that the RAF, in co-operation with the Royal Navy, had prepared an emergency plan to fly Spitfires, Mosquitoes and Beaufighters, all equippel with rockets, from Malaya to the Yangtse River.

Air Ministry officials said that |

It was understood hero that Air Commodore A. D. Davies, from the Amethyst indicated the Lieut-Commander B. M. Skin- was "in full collaboration" with ship has been subjected to in-ner, captain of the Amethyst, British Navy officials in Hong-termittent fire for the past 36 was still aboard the ship king on the Yangise

relatively had been wounded. United The heavily armoured twin-sale from Any urther direct Press.

A

message received

hours, but is now

Beaufighters have hits.

direct

fighting.

ver in addition to strong fire power rockets and have been used the

The Sunderland also in

camc

but

PRESS REACTION London, Apr. 21-The Con- servative Dally Mail today

past for special strating under fire but was not hit, duties against ground artillery... The Navy sald that shortly | termed the Chinese Communist

twin-engined Mosquitoes

The

that an RAF

the shore

the

were по

Chenkingg. 45 miles cast of attacks, from three small islands piele evacuation of the Execu- the Karen National Defence boat pierced underland flying casualties during the last bar.

and fire

rage.

NEAR MISSES

would

"For answer, let us look at Singapore. The echocs from the fall of that "Impregnable' British fortress in 1942 ore still rumbling round the world and its effects are still being felt.

and the single-engined Spitfires after the Sunderland took off attack on British ships in the have also been in Malayan the Amelliyst moved up a small angtse River "naked aggres-

sho was ston." jungles for special strafing jobs. creek near where

aground yesterday and out of AIRCRAFT UNDER FIRE

in a front-pago editorial, the An Admiralty spokesman said line of fire from the Communis!

batteries on the bank of the Mall said:

Those who have Navy has no aircraft car.

been killed are victim of mur- rier in the Far East. The Ad Yangise.

der. Britain must exact retribu- miralty report on the Yangtse

The message from

tion and demand punishment." action said that the 10,000 ton Amethyst said that when the The paper asked: "How in it Klangpuputus INSEIN SURRENDER cruiser, London, and the frigate, Sunderland get beyond range of the Chinese dare to attack our

Black Swan, have been forced

batteries, they warships? Such action POSSIBLE

back to Shanghai to land casual switched their fire to the ship, have been inconceivable, even a'

and

"effect essential Royal Navy officers here said few years ago. A ties Rangoon, Apr. 21.

the message did not elaborate, damage repairs."

The Admiralty announced

there indicating white flag fluttering on top

Communist sheli of a building identified as

Janded near the Organisation Administration Amethyst to render medical as-

The Amethyst's message sug- office at Insein. 10 miles sistance. A doctor aboard

boat

medical carried

gested that if any other dying North of Rangoon, virtually

ying

eboard equipment

the boats were sent to her aid they "A nation which appears to be suspended military opera qu

Ainethyst. The announcement should and in the game creek weak and unwilling to enforce tions for the last 24 hours, said that the Sunderland sue where she was now apparently its rights gets no respect in this —in arriving_pl_the_j anchored, The Inessage_re_world. Power, as we have said. scene even though she was con-arted near misses

un theme and again, is still the thing fred upon during the Sunderland while

that counts." transferring doctor Admiralty .sald

The Conservative Daily Ex- the

medicine to the ship. not evacuating

press, the only RN officers said the fact that

other London usked by thorities are checking whe. Amethyst was

her paper to comment editorially on ull of her wounded to nearby the Amethyst had shifted Chiang Kai-shek to remain.

how ther this signifies a total Chengkang hospital. United anchorage Indicated she was the Yangtse incident

so far, nable

[noted that the Amethyst was Preas.

to manoeuvre,, but CASUALTY TOLL would probably be pinned down carrying supplies to Nanking at a time "when it was known the Shanghal. Apr. 22-Forly-by enlading fire from shore

Communist armies were about The Inseln battle intensified two Royal Navy personnel dead batteries if she attempted ΤΟ

COMBINED ACTION Nonking. Apr. 22.-Combined different North German cities, all i

the river toward Nan- land, sea and air forces were

Meanwhile, the with

the same

here reported last night by the Na- would visit n

king. The night curfew woman living lengthened

one Jour to- tionalist Military News Agency

under the alone, it is alleged, usually on night to permit a citywide to be moving to exterminate Nanking directly the pretext of needing a room,

threat, compled and check subversive the Red forces - which“ curly Communist census

the Yangtse induce her hostess to drink a

elements in face of the Com- yesterday crossed

the government to speed up tho of coffee and depe cup

80 miles south-west of Nanking. plan of evacuating the capital. munist advance. coffee.

three Or even, is further

The Government was ander Heavy ghting was also re- The Agency said that alleged, get the vicllm to eat a

ported at bridgeheads opposito Red armies had opened artillery stood to have ordered the com- noreutic tablet on the assurance

that it contained vitamins.

Control, the Yangise opposite iive, Legislative, Nanking, Nationalist forces were in

Examination and Judicial Yuans "After the victim fell un rushed there to reinforce the Tikiangchen. conscious, I looted the flat and hard-pressed government troops.

Several thousand Communist within three days. The Legisla- succeeded 177 tive Yuan has decided to close have News Agency soldiers The Military

its sessions tomorrow. Li Tsung- that the bridgehead, erossing the River. Five of her alleged victims Shiherlyn, was lost

Nanking last night Ave jen and Premier Ho Ying-chin From by Kovern-

of soldiers will immediately leave after the special train-loods meal troops tolling-Kunehow

It said, were sent in a southward direc- evacuation of the live Yuan Lauyu and Passinehow. present shelling Takat, south the capital where another cross-

53 miles casting is threatened. Two men are on trial with her bank river port

to make peace with the Comsaid that Burma Army au- perimeter The Pukow as alleged accompRees In her if Nanking, to soften the Na- !

munists. but was quiet last night.Reuter-AAP. thefts--Associated Press,

tionalist defetin,

The source said L has agreed to stay.

Karen surrender in Insein or Chiang Kai-shek was said to one sector alone. have instructed that all armed forces and economic resource!!

took off, the tes.ified,

died

The court's verdict is expected Communist artillery was at lion to Tangpu 30 miles from

next week.

EDITORIAL

wns

Yangtse River Incidents

THE shelling of four British warships engaged on peaceful missions in the

the Yangtue, and

heavy casualties the resulting therefrom ranke

Among most deplorable incidents calculated to relations. The full affect international facts are yet to be determined, but there are strong grounds for believing that while, in the case of the Amethyst, the the attack

perhaps nccidentul, shelling of the Consort, London and Black Swan were wllfully deliberate, and because of this the Imperial Government cannot nvold taking a very serious view. The British Ambassador is reporteil already" to have instructed his Cunsul in Tien- tsin to submit a note of protest to Mao Tse-tung in, Pelping, and it in conceivable that, given assurances concerning the future safety of British ships as well as private lives and properly, the unfor- tunate affair could be regarded as closed. But the shelling of two warships; n full 24 hours after the attack on the Amethyst, kas gravely aggravated already deplorable situation. If it was, in fact, Communist guns. which damaged British warships and killed and wounded British sailors (and the Embassy at Nanking appears to be fairly satisfied on this point) then theso three incidents appear to indicate that the Chinese Reds do not intend to respect the ordinary rights of penceful third parties within China, Even acknowledging the ships were moving along the Yongise in Л 2000 where the Communists БУСГО preparing to reopen the civil wor fighting, this cannot be held out na no excuse for the attacks on British ships, the identity of which could hardly be mistaken. And If

one generously conccles that in the

the case of Amethyst the shelling was an accidental

лn

урато

ከሁ

was

the

ceeded -it-was-officially-confirmed.

A reliable source said that Li (oday. Tsunt-jen wanted to quit his office for his failure in his effort

Pro-Government sources

The

the

now

sh

www

and

be put under his control to tend on April 8 after a four-day and 00 wounded--this was the move from her present post-o launch a grand assault meross

that

the Aght against the Commit-

cease fire during vain attempts toll of the two-day Communist tion. Otherwise, they sald, she the river.". nists. It was recalled

artillery attacks On British would have probably attempted it naked: "Was the best a dash clown river to Shanghal method adopted to carry sup- Chiang Kai-shek, though re- to negotiate pouce,

warships on the Yangise. tired, was retaining actuai com.

to Nanking?"United mand of the Army and other power.-United Press.

Karena Subsequent the withdrew to the centre for n possible last stand as govern

Nanking. Apr. 22-Three mpnt pressure Increased, Thousand Communists crossed

The 10.000-ton cruiser Lan- instead of anchoring in don steamed Into port last night greek, with 15 dead and 20 wounded. The destroyer Black Bwan ar- rived together with the London. Ninety talles North of han-She suffered no fatal easttalties which is 40 miles goon, ares were raging in the but five sullors were seriously enst of Nanking this morning. Burmese countryside as Karens according to latest reports set ablaze scores of Burmese reaching the capital-Reuter

ANOTHER CROSSING

the Yangtse four miles east of Chinklang,

STOP PRES

RESCUE PARTY

APRIVES

the railway villages around town of Nyaunglebin.

RECKLESS ATTACKS Omelal reports sald that the Karens since Monday had been hurling themselves recklessly in

practically nonstop attempts to where capture Nynungiebin, land forces were holding them Nanking, Apr. 22-A four-off with ale support. man rescue party made contact

More than 500 Karens are with the Amethyst late yester-

will endeavour day, and

to participating in the battle. evacuate the, wounded from the Their attacks are spearheaded

three cars, sloop and take them to Chin-by armoured klang where reception has been which have been captured by arranged for them by the the, government forces.

to Chinese Navy, according

wounded.

A tabulation of the casualties showed the following: Amethyst, 20 wounded; London, 17 dead, 15 dead and 20 wounded; Black five dead and Swan, Rone wounded: Consort, 10 dead and 15 wounded.

A British naval statement said

that a mass funeral of the fatal casualties will take morrow morning.

place to-

With about 12 large holes ip her hull the cruiser London was today berthed at Holt's Whart across the Whangpoo at Poo- tung The holes in the hull were stuffed with hammocks.

error of judgment, stretch of imagination permits the same explanu tion with regard to the Consort, London and Black Swan. The Amethyst was on a merey mission in which she was entitled

be

and engaged;

subsequently to

the other

went 10 vessels the Acene of the action for the sole purpose of rendering assistance to the stricken ship and to those who were wounded: in on mercy other words, they too were

There missions and of real urgency. кля nothing belligerent about their nctions and, therefore, the unprovoked be them cannot attacks mude upen Justified in any way. In years past these have been would distressing events aumlelent to crente an international to the ultimatums issued furore with offenders. But nations today are a little more level headed, and while the shelling of our warships and the loss of British lives

stir emotions cannot, but horror and indignation, there is

Chinking reports. that the situation believe reason to

Lt.Cdr. cannot be satisfactorily handled through

W. Packard, of wounded mounts steadily. diplomatic channels. But two require-

Chinese doctor remained aboard ments stand out clearly: the Chinese Com

last night assisting the wounded the Karens continue to hammer from shore munista must give solemn assurances that

who were without morphin until at Nyaunglebin, Communists to London replied.

The London was only 300 the South of the town destroyed there will be no repetition of these

their arrival. unwarranted attacks against British Ives Latest reports say that the a railway bridge, halting traffic, yards from the bank when shu

And within

Amethyst was under fire again China, and

property

from the north bank.-Reuter. nual

to the Reda

be prepared guarantee safe conduct for ships using the Yangtse river or other inland water. ways on peaceful missions. These the minimum conditions for seitling the Yangise River Incidents, and if they are not fulfilled, Kritain may find it necessary to review the whole situation whatever action she feels and take necessary to safeguard her nationals end thoir interests in Chinn,

of

no

aro

More than 150

of.

WITHOUT WARNING According to the crew of the

theplies

Press,

IF YOU KNEW about

ROOM AIR CONDITIONING

Your choice would be a

Carrier

ROOM AIR CONDITIONER!

Proven in 118 Countries

Karens have ship she was shelled by five on Countless Ships at Sca The Amethyst's surgeon, so far been killed, while the toil artillery batteries tempted to in thousands of buildings, British military attache and a The reports added that while was only after a second salvo plants, offices and homes.

warning as the

the approach

It

Amethyst.

batteries that the

was struck, Meanwhile, the 48-hour Bur- All the long planned celebra- the tlons in honour of St George's ma Army ultimatum to White Band PVOs and Commu- Day, including a ball and a

dalay expired yesterday.

2 More Amethyst nats seeking to dominate, Man- reception by the British Con

Victims Dia

sul-General, Mr H. W. Urquhart, have been cancelled as a resul Nanking, Apr. 22~~Twenty No reports have been TO of the Amethyst incident, casualties from the Amethystceived on the latest situation In Reuter already evacuated from the the town.

SUCCESSFUL MISSION aloop have reached Chinklang,

Singapore, Apr. 21. The where after medical treatment Sources closest to the govern-

Sunderland flying boat the RAF ment do not believe that they will entrain for Shanghai.

from Hongkong which succeed- Two died en route to Chin-rebels will accept its challenge. klang. Another sight ore in They sald rebels are likely to ed in landing medical supplies of being transferred, attempt to escape from Mandato HMS Amethyst has now re- toy in civilinn disguise.-Asso turned to Shanghal, according

to messages received here. YAMAANANTAIZSARGUESAVTALINDA YENEDERLAmentciated Press.

process Reuter.

it is the Standard of the World.

Ask our own American Engineer about it.

Latest 3⁄4 H.P. & 11⁄2 H.P. Modols

Available Now.

Sola Agents:: GRAY BROTHERS

Windsor House

Tel. 31291-3

A.P.B.14