COMMUNISTS AGAIN REJECT PEACE OFFER

Chronicle (Levin), 8 January 1949, Page 5

COMMUNISTS AGAIN REJECT PEACE OFFER

Received Friday, 10.4 p.m. NEW YORK, J an. 6. The United Nations Reeretary (General Trvgve Lie) aunounced in New York he would not interveneNin the Chinese war. He explained in an offiical announcement that his authority to take action was doubtful, and that in any case he failed to see that anv action on his part could be helpful in tlie present situation. The New York Times' Nanking correspondent reports that the Communist radio today declared that. Chiang Kai "shek's peace conditions set down in his New Year message were "a trick to preserve tlie present ruling econombgroups." The radio for the third suecessive time rejected Chiang 's condi tions. Eollowing a 20 davs' lull on the North Ankwei front the Communist armies vesterday began their .expeeted offensive againsbthe Nationalist forces defending the Nanking-Rhanghai area, according to- reliable military sources. Beveu Communist eolumns marched south from the north bank of the Hwai River 110 miles northward of the eapital and part of oue column is reported to have crossed the river south-west of Hwaiyuan just west of Pengpu and has engaged the Nationalists. The Communist General Chenyi's forces are also reported to have begun an almost eontinuous artillery bombardment of General Tuyuming's encireled 'Huschow garrison south-west of ' Ruhsien.