NATIONALISTS PREPARING FOR RETURN OF KAI-SHEK

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1949, Page 5

NATIONALISTS PREPARING FOR RETURN OF KAI-SHEK

Received Friday, Noon. NANKING, April 21. The Government leaders in Canton are preparing for the return of Mars'hal Chiang Kai-shek to lead the Nationalist armies in what may be the final campaign of the Chinese civil war, says the British United Press correspondent. Reliable reports say that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, while retaining actual command of the army and economic resourees even though he retired on January 21, has placed all military, political and economic powers in the hands of President Li Tsung-ien.

War Nears Nanking. The sound of fighting can be clearly heard in Nanking and is growjng eloser all the time. Three more north bank bridgeheads fell to the Communists last night and reports from Wuhu said that about 3000 Communists have succeeded in crossing the Yangtze, about 20 miles below Wuhu. They have sfnce ;djsappeared into the hilis and are expected to come out tonight and engage the Nationalists yhile other forces attempt a crossing. of the river, Launehihg the. crossing last hight, th& jRedsi.fised over 100 guns to bombard the south bank and eover the river eraft, but only 3000 of the 5000 succeeded in reaching the .south bank.: . ... , , ifr,v. • New Crossings Expected. Reports from Thiwei, about 75 -miles . east of Nanking, said that •more 'than 2000 Communist river eraft and about £00 . heavy guns have been concentrated there for the expected crossing tonight. -The flight of Government offices remaining in Nanking began tonight. AU have left for Canton except the National Defenee Ministry. Shanghai has reacted quietly to the news of the Communist crossing of the Yangtze.