1951-01-15 — Page 6

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1951.

5

Puzzle Of Kuomintang's Forces On

Formosa: Invasion

Prospects

Analysed

Taipeh, Jan. 14.

Whether Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's 500,000-strong army on Formosa could become a military factor in the Far Eastern situation is the subject of hot debate among foreign observers here.

number of so-called guerillas who now undoubtedly harass Communist troops, are

A year ago, as Generalissimo Chiang Kai- They believe that the greater shek's defeated army re-grouped on fertile, moun- tainous, tropical Formosa, 100 miles off the Com- munist-held Chinese mainland, Nationalist leaders claimed that they could hurl back any Communist invasion attack.

Today, the Nationalists talk boldly of soon launching their own invasion attack on the mainland, of setting up a new Chinese capital in Nanking within a year, and com- pletely routing the Communist armies by 1953.

nothing more than China's traditional bandits. who have as little re- gard for Generalissimo Chiang

as they have for the Communist leader, Mao Tse-tung.

The

these foreigners believe, is still biggest imponderable, whether Nationalist troops would be prepared to fight in a main- land counter-offensive. Past

These claims coincide with to organise guerilla support and experience has shown that troop widespread "intelligence re- stir up a popular resistance defections are the key to the ports" from the Chinese Com- movement in the Communist Nationalists' defeats.

munist interior that prepara- -interior.

President Chiang's soldiers tions are being rushed for a de- His transport planes range did not willingly choose exile fensive war.

nightly over the coastal pro-in Formosa and the majority The small team of unofficial vinces dropping anti-Communist have not seen their homes in at American military advisers, leaflets and telling of the least three or four years: attached to President Chiang's "liberation" soon to be effected Many people here believe that Headquarters irz a private by his father's armies.

mo's claims.

areas.

La Nationalist landing on the

capacity, express wholehearted Air Force planes regularly Chinese mainland would be the confidence in the Generalissi-drop rice to famine-stricken signal for many of the troops to surrender and get home as Most other foreigners in Young Chiang has despatched quickly Taipeh

as possible unless do not share this several hundred of his political United American

Nations backing and enthusiasm for the officers to the mainland, some crushing Communist defeats Nationalists' hopes of effecting dropped by parachute, some elsewhere made victory seem landed from fishing junks, to In support of their views, help organise the resistance the American advisers argue: movement.

a come-back,

certain.

Generalissimo Chiang's officers, on the other hand, rebut any suggestion of possible defections,

Chinese

Republic.-

1. That Generalissimo Chiang, All these factors, according to despite his mainland defeats and the American military advisers, claiming that morale and loyalty responsibility for crippling cor- add up to a Chinese Nation-to the Generalissimo is higher ruption and inefficiency in his | alist resurgence as a military than ever before in the history lower échelons, is still the most factor and one recognised by of the

MacArthur, Reuter. China today. (Nationalist troop who flew to Formosa in July to defections are blamed on Vice-promise President Chiang sup- President Li Tsung-jen, who port in his anti-Communist sued for peace, a move with fight.

popular individual

leader

in General

Douglas

which President Chiang would THE OTHER VIEW

not associate himself.)

GUERILLA FORCES

Although

Empire Plan Attacked

most other for- eigners believe that the Nation- 2. That genuine dissatis-alists could, even without faction with the People's Gov- American help, beat back a

-Washington, Jan. 14. ernment has aroused a popular

Communist invasion attempt,

The Commonwealth Prime desire among the mainland that is the extent of their opti- Ministers' proposal for an ex- population for 2 change of

change of ideas with Stalin or government.

They think

talk of a Mao Tse-tung was fraught with counter-invasion is

the purely mischief,

independent propaganda designed to bolster Washington Post declared to- morale both on the mainland day. and on the home front.

The invading Nationalist forces would receive a warm welcome if they launched invasion of the mainland.

to

ani

mism.

that

What the Ministers hoped to Coupled with this, the Ameri- The Generalissimo, they say, accomplish was a mystery, the can military men say, is an-

is holding out Formosa only in newspaper said. other favourable aspect-that

the hope of a world conflict in Their declaration had come the Chinese

Asia. "masses" are in-

when This, he hopes, would at a time

the United herently "fence-sitters" and find him back with Western [Nations' Political Committee would hold out

of support as President the flag

of the was shaping a proposal for a .friendship

Chinese whole of China.

four-Power conference on Far any general marching their way. To achieve this, they argue, Eastern problems, also the most 3. That the mainland guerilla he must maintain the appear-delicate negotiations were under forces, particularly in China's

of being a military fac-way for a Big Four conference southern provinces of Kwangsa,

sword against Russian to discuss Germany's future Kwangtung, Szechwan and the expansion."-to appeal to the and other causes of East-West central

Western coastal province

forces combating tension.-Reuter. Kiangsu, south of Shanghai, are

Russian expansion in Asia.

Such claims only biding their time to assist

President a Nationalist invasion,

of

ance

tor-"a

Qu

a's

In Ipoh

A SMILE AND A SNARL-Pretty airline hostess Faith Sisman has her two charges pretty well in hand in London. The six-week-old cubs, Cherry, left, showing a bit of disposition, and Pamela, more complacent, are going to a zoo in Calgary, Canada.

Home Fleet

Leaving For

The Med.

London, Jan. 14. Ships of the British Home Fleet will leave this week for Gibraltar for their Spring cruise, the Admiralty announced today. Others will leave in early February to join them. To gether

sail they will

from into the Gibraltar

Western Mediterranean for exercises with the Mediterranean Fleet.

Later, some of the ships will

and visit ports in Italy

the French Riviera.'

The cruiser Swiftsure and three destroyers will leave to- and the battleship

morrow

More destroyers, frigates and submarines will leave during the weck.

Chiang's personal popularity, his Grenade Outrage Vanguard, on Thursday. President Chiang claims that guerilla backing and probable 1,600,000 guerillas are loyal to support by popular anti- him and daily harassing the Communist forces, holding down large numbers of troops which would otherwise be available for

service in Korea and Indo-China. LEAFLET RAIDS

move-

Communist resistance ment, these observers treat with

Three British soldiers

were

circumspection as possibly part Ipoh (North Malaya), Jan. 14. of the new political warfare pro-wounded tonight, two seriously, when a hand grenade was thrown at them in the centre

gramme,

CLAIM DISCOUNTED

Two Fleet aircraft carriers, the Indomitable and Indefatigable, early in February.--Reuter. and other destroyers will leave

66

JAPANESE

MUST BE

PREPARED

Tokyo, Jan. 14

Mr Jeichi Masuhara, the Chief of the Japanese National Police Reserve Corps, has stated that his organisation must be fully prepared for any emergency at home in view of the delicate in- situation, the ternational. Japanese Jiji news agency re- ported.

The police chief, who Was speaking at a party at Kawaga, revealed that Shikoku Island, the training of Corps members was already under way in 50 centres throughout the country. The Corps was not an armed force, he declared, but an 01- ganisation designed to maintain peace and order in Japan.

He said the Japanese needed a new determination to guard their home country from foreign aggressors at any time and under any circumstances. It would be quite wrong to assume that the Japanese would not be required The President's elder son, Foreigners with long experince of Ipoh.

ment park. It was the seventh to fight if their country WaB Lieutenant-General Chiang in China tend to discount Pre- A young Chinese couple were reported bomb entrage in Ipoh invaded from abroad. Ching-kuo, the Chief of Political sident Chiang's claim that he also wounded.

since the Malayan emergency No member of the Corps Warfare, is using up-to date controls а 1,600,000-strong The grenade was thrown started two and a half years would be sent abroad to take American propaganda methods guerilla force.

'from inside a crowded amuse- ago.-Reuter.

part in any foreigh war.-Reuter.

NANCY Consider-ate

NEVER BE

THOUGHTLESS --

ALWAYS BE CONSIDERATE OF

OTHERS

ERNIE BUSHMILLER

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By Ernie Bushmiller

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