Chinese Intercept Another British Ship

Chronicle (Levin), 9 November 1949, Page 5

Chinese Intercept Another British Ship

4* Received Tuesday, 10.30 p.m. HONG KONG, Nov. 8. Another British merchantman was intercepted this morning by a Ohinese Nationalist warship at the mouth of the Yangtze. She is the steamer Wosang bound for Hong Kong with a cargo from Shanghai. The Wosang is now anchored close to the Tsinan at the entrance to the Y'angtze. Both are in Chinese territorial waters and near the Nationalist warship which is standing 'aeross their path to the open sea. The British frigate Alacrity continnes to keep watch about five miles away outside territorial waters. Shipping.circles in Hong Kong believe neither the Tsinan nor Wosang are in any physical danger. It is believed thepresent Nationalist a'ction may be the final serious effort to blockade this seetion of the China coast by warships. The Nationalist resources in' ships are being rapidly depleted partly by defections to the Communists. Their seaair base in the Chunan Islands south of the Yangtze entrance are coming under inereasing Communist pressure and they have already lost several adjacent islands. The loss of the Chusans would necessitate withdrawal to Taiwan and seriously reduce the ability to control the Yangtze mouth except by air.