1949-04-25 — Page 1

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Re:Cold

VOL. IV NO. 5

For Pit Proprietor of

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

For and on behalf of

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. LTD

«Kristen, and Publisher

The

Today's Weather: Light or muderata SW or West winds, Weather fair and warm,

Noon Dbservationst Barometria pressure, 1012.1 mbs., 20.89 in. Temperature, 83.2 deg. F. Dew point, 12 deg? F. Relative humidity, 70. Wind direction, BW. Wind force, 10 knais,

Low water; 3 ft. 3 in, at 2.55 p.m. 11igh water: 5 ft. 2 in. pi 9.05 p.m.

Hongkong Telegraph.

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1949.

Dino

st the

For

P.G

Reservations

Price Cents

Pollitt Shanghai May Become Second Peiping

Arouses Sailors' Tempers

Plymouth, Apr. 24- Stones were hurled through the windows and doors were broken down in a hall where Mr Harry Pollitt, the Secretary of the British Communist Party, ad. dressed a meeting here to- night.

to

There was an uproar in the meeting when he referred the Chinese Communists' shell- ing of British warships on the Yangtze River.

For the third successive day police had to shepherd Mr Pot- iitt away from hostile crowds.

Sailors headet! a crowd which brushed aside the police guard cutside the ball and broke duwn the doors.

Mr Pollit had been speaking for about five minules when he referred to the Yangtse River Incident.

This started a stream of in- terruptions which, after a few minutes, developed into an up-

forcing the Communist leader to close the meeting.

CLOAK-ROOM HAVEN Pollee shepherded him into a cloak-room, while more thon 5,000 people walled outside for him to leave.

Mr Pollitt said in his speech that

there

was not yet sufficient evidence to enable the people a balanced judgment of

PLANS FOR A PEACEFUL TURN-OVER

Shanghai, Apr. 25.-The first concrete move to achieve a peaceful turn-over in Shanghai after the fashion of Peiping and thus save China's largest port city from possi- ble heavy destruction is at present under way, according to a Kuomintang source close to high Nationalist officials this morning.

The report cannot at present be confirmed from any other quarter but the source told Reuter that leading Shanghai industrialists, after successfully impressing Garrison Head- quarters that a local settlement would be the best way out for all, had already contacted the Communist guerillas and underground ele- ments and talks were in progress.

Local railway officials said this morning that trains were still running to Hangchow and to Kunshan. If this is so the vital railway june- tion of Kashing, 60 miles south-west of Shang- hai, would still be in Nationalist hands and the evacuation route for the Shanghai Garrison would still be open.

Unconfirmed reports this morning claimed that part of the local garrison were already evacuating the city by rail and road.

of refugees pouring in from the suburbs.

Reds Refuse

Amethyst Rescue

Nanking, Apr. 25-The British Embassy announced on Sunday night 'that the Communists and refused a ceale fire to allow resens British of the damaged Blood Amethyst In the

river, Yangtse

Eart Nanking.

of

The sloop was the Arst of four British warships hit by Communist artillery Marting last Wednesday. Forty-three men were kill- cil and more than 80 wounded.

With about 60 men sllli aboard, the Amethyst has been unable to move up of down the river. She was reparied 50 miles East of Ninking, but for the past two days, her location has been shrouded by the for of war.

The Embassy announced that its first secretary, Mr Edward Yonde, returned to Nanklag on Sunday afler crossing to the North bank of the river week to try a cease fire. Its misalon was unsuccess- ful. Associated Press.

Swiftly advancing the Com- munists armies were meeting almost no resistance and the fall of Shanghai was believed to be The rush to stock up tinned a matter of days. There is in- activity goods and other foodstuff for a creasing underground

in Shanghal is in Nanking possible slege continued.

Arth the

columnists All local public and private where Omcial confirmation is also

far unobtainable to reports colleges and schools decided to handed over the capital to the

time Red armies. Router circulating among foreign dip-suspend classes for the lomatic circles

General being and simed sentries have United Press. Tan En-po, Commander of the been posted at several national Chinan Shanghai-Hangchow universities including Nanking

in the garrison area, had already left and Futan Universities in His voice was hardly audible Shanghal and that the Com-northern suburb of Kingwan,

Garrison troops have occupied above the din as the sailors munists had effected a landing

which is only about the premises of the American cried, "Rubbish" when he said at Liuho

the tragic happenings of the

past few days.

Then the sullors atarted hur ling chairs at the platform. Mr Pollitt's supporters warded off blows.

50

that

that steps should have been 22 miles north-west of Shang-missionury St John's University taken before the British ships hal. went up the River.

-Reuter.

EDITORIAL

the re-

TENSION RISING

In the Western suburb "for strategic reasons".

K

Stationing of troops was also the Meanwhile.

Shanghai explained as precautionary

Yuan measure

student prevent office of the Executive armomced that the first ship to:

agitation.

The Chinese evacuate Government employees

Beginning Of The End

THE manner in which the Nationalists

Communists,

and

Hongkong As Haven For Evacuees

British Consul's Statement

Shanghai, Apr. 25.-

"We Are Going

To Canton"

Chant The Reds

Nanking Scenes Described

By CHANG KUO-SIN

Nanking, Apr. 24.-The Chinese Com- munist troops, pouring in an endless stream through Nanking, were telling excited crowds jammed along the main streets, "We are going to Canton,"

Occasionally a detachment of exhausted troops will sit on the curbstones for a few minutes rest. While the crowds listened the soldiers were singing their anthems over and over again: "We Must Think of the Common Man," "Down with the Reactionaries," and "Mao Tse-tung, Our Saviour."

one

At intervals, a group of students carrying banners and singing joined the streamin' of Com. munists to march alongside them and show their welcome. Great crowds started massing in the streets early this morning to watch the troops.

I watched.

battalion can Embassy or other American parading through the Sun Yat property. Sen road in their yellowish uniforms and their equipment was the same as that of the Nationalist troops. So far as have seen there were no units with heavy equipment.

I

"Order was completely re- stored this morning. Commu- nist Army trucks raced through the streets. The crowds show ed no fear the

of Communists but were rather excited, and

the

enger to sce

Troops who took over Nan- king were believed to be those of the Communist 35th Army.-- Associated Press.

PROPERTY DAMAGED London, Apr. 24-The Foreign Office, said today that the rioting in Nanking caused some commercial damage to British property.

The Foreign Office reported that government properly was

"People's Army of Laat harmed, All British subjects

is

for passersby.

were described as "safe and The discipline of the troops well." The Foreign Office receiv→

nre ex-ed its excellent. They

information from Sir ceedingly polite making way Ralph Stevenson, British Am-

bassador at Nanking. The Bri My Jeep was stopped occa- tish authorities in Shanghai have thenol yet advised British subjects slonally by pressure crowd that lined up from the to leave-United Press. munist soldiers stopped me ut

said

of

to

an

HERE TODAY

HMS Consort, the destroyer damaged by Communist artillery on the Yangtse last week, is due In longkong this afternoon or evening.

She is carrying three walking

COSOS from wounded

HMS Amethyst, the first British ship to be fired on.

Tel: 27880

The End Of A Tragedy

Miäppa in a grey woollen blanket, the body of Kathy Fiscus comes into view at the mouth of the rescue shaft after it was freed from the 'abandoned -well-- in - San Marino, Calif., into which” she ̈ fell, Bill Yancey is the rescue worker holding the body of the little girl whose plight tugged at the heart- strings of the world.-AP Picture.

Ex-Police Officer Sues H.K. Govt.

"W. H. COWIE ALLEGES WRONGFUL

DISMISSAL: CLAIMS DAMAGES

Hearing of a claim for damages for wrongful dismissal, brought by William Henry Cowie, ex-Sub-Inspector of Police, against the Attorney-General of Hongkong, opened before the Chief Justice, Sir Leslie Gibson, and a Special Jury at the Supreme Court this morning.

Above the uproar he shouted, "I bay quite sincerely that no person, whatever his polities, could be any other in his heart but sympathetic with latives of the British boys wand organizations would leave totalling nearly 1,500,000 strong. and met their death on the Yangtseport this afternoon for Canton. today drove on Shanghai River."

Tension was already rising South China.. Earlier today, Mr Pollitt issued

The Communists sent 300,- "a "statement accusing the Con-locally but there had been no

o prudent to reduce commit- the north gate but quickly an--CONSORT DUE- Incidents which interrupted his forces were adding the police inYangtse tiver at Nanking servative Party of "arranging" | disorders of any kind. "Garrison 000′′to ~500,000-troops-across-the Declaring that it seemed north to south gate. Two Com-

than 1,000,000

am newspaperman. speeches in other towns and in maintaining order especially in augment more

longed period of business in-e

Jeep, belonging Devon on Friday and yesterday the outlying arens which were who have already placed Shangments in view of the pro-thorised me to proccet when?

besieged by an unending stream hal in imminent perii.

activity, the British Consul-American military attache with General, Mr R. W. Urquhart, ja United States dag painted on last night issued a notice its side, was permailed to pro-

Iceed without incident. informing the British com- The Nanking people seemed munity that a possible help to be glad that their part of would be given to women, the war is over.-United Press. children and men who had! PLANES STRAFE CITY

Nanicing, Ápr. -Com- no essential jobs to leave

The Consort's time of arrival munist troops marched into Wils the city.

Chinese Nationalist capital with is not yet deflullely known, as Emergency accommodation could be provided at Hongkong out position on Sunday, but in she cignalled isle morning that for a short period punkiing on midafternoon three Nationalist she was delayed by ion off the

coast north of the Colony. ward passage to a destination planes strated the city.

20,000 Red By

nightfall, he said, but accommodation

the had spread over soldiers of an bo "must necessarily austere character."

He made it clear, howevet, Ambassador, that the British

dor Sir Ralph Stevenson, did not favour any general evacuation

Mr Urquhart seld notice issued that after com

the Committees croft guns fired back at then today organised 1096 fro

soldiers in his platood, Hiled sultation with

It

were appeared the Planes of the British Chamber of Com-

Resi-striking at big dumps of fuel and killed Ave members of

fueuerilia band, Including merco and the Briti

und bombs left intact at the worn, wounded one and cap dents Association, intakes nirfleld when the Nationalist In-tured another,

he had decided fantry left the city on Saturday miles 6st of Buruns Perak. their advice, that at this stage it was advisa-

ralded The soldiers bia to "thin out our nuitbers, nest because Shanghai ls How However, artillery

about In the war zone and, second, for hard hudding away about tenuerila

anies to the Southwest. Stray by police Patrol after getting General was represented by Mr Regulations made hereunders 30 rebels-accominted for plaintiff, And the Attorney- Ordinance No. 32 of 1932 and economic reasons,

loofers still scavenged among information from

A plain villager. A. Lonsdale A

(Crown Counsel), that at the material da. the ruins of homes and shops They were are on but suffered instructed by Mr L. 19. Andrewes | tiff was employed as Trafic left by Saturday's all day

(Crown Solicitor).

(Contioued on Page 5) no casualties.outer. anarchy before the Reds entered, CURIOSITY REACTION The general reaction of this

have surrendered the Yangtse, in- cluding the capital of Nanking, without offering even token resistance is eloquent of the state of defeatism into which the Government has fallen and the negative leadership from which its troops are suffering. The loss of Shanghai, China's greatest modern city, to the Reds Is now Inevitable, and after that, what then? The Chinese, as much as foreign obser vers, cynically dismiss declared Inten- ilona of Nationalist leaders to "fight the war to the bitter end;" it has been repeated so often and every time the challenge has been made (on a major intlefront,

has revealed the defiance itself as being so many words, with no serious effort made to substantiate them with complementary action. To those who still retained faith in the Nationalists to make a determined stand against the Communist military forces the loss of the Yangtse overnight is a distressing denouement and a disturbing pointer to future military developments further south. Undoubtedly there will be some token -resistance: to the Reds'

advance

along the approaches to Shanghai, if only in the Interests of "face," but the Nationalists military chiefs have demon- strated they have no stomach for battle from prepared positions and still less inclination to take the offensive. The picture taking shape with Increasing clarity of outline is that of armies being withdrawn to less accessible reglana for Individual the purposca .of protecting generals who may feel that, surrounded by loyal troops, they can reach private pence terms with the Communists that will permit them to save their own skin ne well as Ince, South China is now quoted as the area designated by the Nationalists for a "last ditch" stand, but nothing that has happened in north and

central China encourages the belief that the Reds can be held successfully at ny in this region. Geographically there are considerable obstacles to any franini attack-many natural barriers and long and difficult lines of communication. But the Communists in the battlefield. have continually proved their adeptness in overcoming these very hindrances, the most effective method boing the establish- ment of "pockets", behind the enemy. It is this type of tactics that will probably be used if the Nationalists seriously a fight in Kwangsi attempt to put up and Kwangtung, and it will probably succeed as it has done in other areas. It a trifle premature to write off may be completely the Nationalist military aliua- tion, but it is now parlous enough to convince the onlooker that final defeat of the KMT armies, either by negotiated surrender or elimination in battle, je but a matter of time. Far more important Is the question whether the Communists can and will set up' central and regional administrations capable of bringing the necessary reforms to the cities na well as the countryside. This will be as, much, the chief preoccupation of foreign in- tereats in Chinn as the Chinese them- selves, and will be the guiding factor in the country's future foreign relations. The safely of foreign lives under Com- munisi rule has become a sharply focussed question mark as a result of the incidents In the Yangine River last week, and while the behaviour of the Reds in cities like Pelping and Tientsin offers degree of renssurance, the unprovoked attacks on British

warships, with the loss of 44 lives, naturally reawakens fears, cspecially among foreigners In Slangħal where they have warships nt anchor. Developments during the week ahead will be watched with no Hitle anxiety,

menta..

to

this

In the

eithe Nationalist planés' attack

POSSE HUNTS GUERILLAS

Plaintiff alleged that he had suffered damages totalling $7,516.13 by virtue of the wrongful dis- missal without notice and in breach of contract. He was dismissed from his post of Traffic Inspector in Kowloon on August 25, 1947, by H.E. the G wernor on the recommendation of a Departmental board of Enquiry into Cowie's alleged receipt of a bribe of

Ho also $50 from one Chan Yu-tong

caimed

The

Ming was, made on the

Tomb" airfeld in the Southeast section of Nanking, Reports Wid. the

general damages, Singapore, Apr. 24-A for sing sircraft did only fight poral in the Maluya Regintent damage. Communist anti-kir-

The Special Jury empanelled

Statement of Cialni plaintiff comprises Mears 1 Fisher stated inter alia that

Chun

a Sub Slu-ming, was employed as (foreman),

of the Hongkong neth Chan, J. Rothers, inspector Pratt, R. A. Desai Alki S, Police from December 21, 1945

Larit August 25, 1947, under three Jurgenson

Mr Brook A. Bernacchi. In contract Hatod December

1945, in accordance with the by Mr Y. HI. Chanons of the Police Force. the structed

by (Tro and Hodgson) appeared pravis."

Otherwise Nanking was quiet.

could

Abrit

camp-occuplett

city of murre than one ensliga Children And Adults Stagë Big Run On

was one of curiosity more than anything else.

thing

a holiday atomsphem

An edge of excitement

prevalled. essen-

London,

24- Apr.

Britain's Sweets Shops

Children

setting off

drst.

SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES: Present economic dificulties in Shanghidi wore serious and in futuro there might well bo

of

business another perio inactivity. It therefore seemed commit- redube prudent

ley Committee of the The Polley

Some university students Dritish emergency planners had nccepted this view in principle went singing to greet the ContHundreds of owners of munists as they marched up shops in Britain put up their! but they did not think it was Chungshan Road past the shutters tonight, hung out Justified in putting an emer-

Executive Yuan (Nationalist "Sorry, No Sweets" signs gency plan into operation:

the "Sorry, No They ask me to make clear building, and some beside

Cigaretter signs and went it is still their policy to

Ang was to bed muttering: "Was it aiviso people who have tial jobs to stay put Mrovident, bat Nanking showed worth the trouble?" Urquhart said in his notice. relief that the transition period

Throughout Me day, stream Mr Urquhart continued,

was over. It appeared that ro consulted His Majesty's Am-sidents would get their first of children did good num-

this evening, telling night of rest. after basador

hectieber of adults trad hurried hin that there are suitable seventy-two hours.

to celebrate what may go down Fallings in the near future. In Nankchi, awaited

On an average the queues of End. entry of in British history dr."Lallpop his reply he states, "I seg no Communist political workers into Sunday." It was the first time buyers had one, attuli, to every

The trade now wonders objection to those who desire to the city to take full control of in seven years the Britons three youngster. Stare keepers,

the Municipal

who had fought, the Govern-whether today's record sales do so taking the opportunity to

ofces. Most could buy sweets untitioned. Shops were leave on any suitable ship that offices, however, were suli being

bezlégèr from ment for months to desration will continue, or whether the may happen to be in the har operated by their old officials, dawn to dusk. In a land where sweets, found their slocks net-demand will become stabilized Communist guards have been queues are long, they Utcame tinx v. and some begun to at the planned rate of 44. stationed at the doors of some still longer. Odd pennies, complain of "unfair allocution. ounces a week-compared with Embasales and Legations, but hoarded for past weeks by dfill- Some highlights of the rush the four ounces ration in forca nono as yet before the Ameri-dren-there are 3,500,000 · bo- | to satisfy the sweel tooth3 in=[so far.—Reuter,

bour."

"T

He does not, however, favour any general evacuation."-Reu ter.

tween the ages of five and nine, cluded:

were gathered up and clutch-carly for Sunday School to call Fód: In small, grubby fists and at the sweet shops exchanged, for a hundred and policeman who helped distribute one varieties of sticky "awcots." 200 lollipops, free to children at

while the youngsters Folkstone,

Kon! A storekeeper apert their ponnies on lollipops, whose one-way queue of buyers liquore sucks and brandy went in through the front door balls, dels spent their shillings and out through the back. Six on chochfalo, chlünie's and uniformed altendants who had to control the crowds at n' Hargo store in London's West

mints.

11