Chinese Communists Claim More Successes

Chronicle (Levin), 8 December 1948, Page 5

Chinese Communists Claim More Successes

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuters

; Covvright)

Received Wednesday, 10.5 a.m. NANKING, Dec. 7. Reiping and not Nanking. may be rtia'de the next Nationalist city aSsaulted ' by the Communists. Tungchow, only 12 miles east of Peiping, Was today placed on a wartime basis as Communist successes 'only 30 miles nottheast of the city *wer reported. The Tunghow authorities • announced that all buildings within 200 yards of the city are subject to demolition. Pro -Government sources today reported® heavy fighting around Yung'cheng, in the Honan-Anhwei-Kiangsu border region, where the Communists were earlier reporte'd to have Surrounded elements of 1 three Nationalist Army groups trying to drive south from Hsuchow.

An air force explosives 'dump andx g/asoline store' blew up at Nayuan airfield, on the soutliern outskirts of Nanking. The explosion rattled doors and windows in Tientsin, nearly 50 miles away. Earth and wood slum 'dwellings in the vicinity of the airfield coliapsed like a pack of card;s. The explosion is believe'd to have been caused by the detonation of a hand grenade while being sorted. Reports .that American Mhrines are being transferred to Shanghai from Tsingtao have not yet been officially confirmed, but they have gained wide credence even among highly placed Chinese foreign c.rcles. The -reports have elate'd Chinese and forpigners alike.