Evening star., 1945-08-16
Chinese Communists
Reported in Clash
With Chang Forces
BY the Associated Press.


ficial reports today said Chinese
Communist troops, apparently
bent on seizing control of all
key cities north Of the Yellow
River when the Japanese lay
down their arms, had clashed
with central government guer-
rillas at several points near
Tsingtao and Tientsin.
Previous unconfirmed reports had
said the Communists were moving
to seize both those cities as vel
as Peiping, Hsuchow and Other
strategic centers in direct defiance
of orders from Generalissime
Chang Kai-shek.
Chinese Communist leaders today
formally rejected Chiang's order tt
remain at their present posts ane
take no independent action against
the Japanese, saying the order wa'
definitely contrary to the interest;
Of the Chinese nation"
Chang Seeks Conference.
The rejection came as Chang
awaited a reply to an invitation tt
Gen. Mao Tze-tung, a Communist
leader, to confer with him ir
Chungking.
I'VE have many international ano
internal problems awaiting settle
ment," the generalissimo said In a
radio message to the Communist
omcial. These involve our national
welfare. Please do not delay in
coming here"
The Communists issued a COM
muniQue saying their troops were
near Peiping. No other major city
was mentioned and the text was
not passed by the central govern
ment censors.
It has long been known that
Communist forces were solidly es-
tablished in the hills dominating
Peiping. There were no authentic
reports on whether any Japanese
garrisons had surrendered in that
area.
Order Is Firmly Rejected.
There also was an absence of in
formation from the vital port OF
Shanghai. Prearmistice reports put
Communist outposts within so miles
Of this great city and their under
ground was reported infiltrating into
the city itself.
The formal rejection Of Chiang's
order for the Communist forces to
remain at their present posts and
to refrain from disarming Japanese
and puppet soldiers was signed by
Gen. Chuh Teh, Communist COM
mander, and Gen. Peng Teh-huai,
deputy commander, who said:
I'VE consider your order a grave
mistake and are compelled to re-
fuse it firmly. Your order is only
to the advantage Of the Japanese
and traitors who have sold out their
country"
An unidentified spokesman for
the Communist news agency issued
a statement referring to Chang as
. Fascist chieftain" and asserting
that his underground consisted of
troops serving the Japanese"
''Is there still any doubt that dam
ger OF civil war Is serious?" the
spokesman asked.
Wants Own Representatives.
He said the Chinese high COM
mand in Chungking did not repre-
sent the people and appealed to the
United States, Russia and Britain
to permit the Communist command
to send its own representatives to
participate in the surrender of ia
pan and in the peace conference.
Meanwhile, the central govern
ment announced two moves to get
trusted men in key stations, ap-
pointing Vice Admiral Chan Chak
as mayor Of Canton and Lib Sien
Liang, described as an underground
leader, to be mayor of Tsingtao, one
Of the major North China cities.
King George vi conferred knight
hood upon one-legged Chan Chak
for his cooperation with the British
during the battle of Hong Kong.