Nationalists Still Falling Back

Chronicle (Levin), 26 April 1949, Page 5

Nationalists Still Falling Back

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Countless Refugees Pour Into City

, Covyright)

...sdP* Received Tuesday, 10.45 a.m. SHANGHAI, April 25. The Communist armies advancing along tJae NankingShanghai railway pushed within 35 miles of Shanghai today as the Nationalists continued to fall back east and south-east. The Communists reached the vicinity of Kunshan, 35 miles west of Shanghai, and, according to railway officials, Communist guerillas have already entered the city.

An official military spokesman declared that the Nationalists are withdrawing in pert'ect order from the Nanking-Shanghai railway to the outer perimeter of Shanghai. The total strength of the forces now concentrated in Shanghai, he said, number about 300,000 men. The Shanghai-Hanchow railway, which is the last land route of escape for the Shanghai garrison, was still open late this evenmL despite earner reports to the contrary, with Kashing, 7 o miles souineast of Shanghai, still firmly in the Nationalists' hands. Mr. William Parrott, N.Z.P.A.Reuter correspondent, reports that thousands of Chinese refugees are today streaming into Shanghai bei'ore the advancing Communists. The rich came in shming cars ana poor peasants afoot, trundling hand carts or pushing wheel barrows. The refugees brought everything they could carry away or move — c^ming, cooking utensils, furniture and puiiltry. Under torrentiai rains, they noouea dismally into tne city streets, whicn in many piaces were cnoked with traihc. Thousands of people crowded sliipping and airways' offices seekmg passages abroad.