CHINESE WAR EXPLODES

Chronicle (Levin), 21 April 1949, Page 5

CHINESE WAR EXPLODES

(N.Z.P.A.-

Reuter ,

Big Communist Attacks Aiong Yangtze Front

Copyright)

Received Thursday, 11.15 a.m. NANKING, April 20. The dreaded Chinese ci.vil war exploded tonight all .along the Yangtze River front, says the Associated Press, Communist attacks were started at several points. Gunfire could be heard and, for the first time during the war, seen l'rom the capital. Pukow, on the soqthern bank of the Yangtze, was under attack, as also was Kiangpu, pn the norfji bank seven miles southwest of the capital; Serious fighting is reported op--pcsite Wuhu, 60 miles southwest of Nanking. A high-ranking Ministry of National Defence official said that the Communist attacks seemed to be directed at all Nationalist positions on the norih bank of the river. There . are only a few Nationa'ist pockets remaining on the north bank: Preparing For Crossing. Messages'from Chinkiang tonight said that the Nationalists _ had ordered the civilian evacuation of the district on the south bank, 15 mi es east of Chinkiang, near where the Brirish vessei Amethyst i i? aground. This is regarded as the like'iest Communist crossing place along the whole Yangtze front. Other messages said that two small islands in this vicinity have been taken by the communists m preparation for an attack on Yangchung, a strategic island town in the middle of the river, east of Chinkiang. . ^ ,. Artillery went mto action. as Premier Hoying Chen's Cabinet bega'n a vigil session to see whether or not the Communists intend to rejeot the Nationalist counterproposal to the Communist peace pian. As the session began, some iRed shells fell on the south bank j of the Yangtze.