Evening star., 1946-04-20
.Harbin Seizure
BY
Chinese Reds
Government Officials
Flee Munchuriu City,
Fearing Communists
BY the Associated Press

Chinese Communists today an
nounced they would. occupy the
northern Manchurian city of
Harbin when the Russian with
draw next Wednesday "if a state
of civil war still prevails" then.
| The Communists demonstration
to follow up the success in occupy
ing Chngchun, Manchuria's capi-
tai, was announced in Chungking
/ by a party spokesman.
| Possession of Changchun gave the
| Chinese Communists a firm grip on
Central Manchuria. and a govern
ment spokesman admitted that the
situation there was very grave"
Chinese Officials Flee.
I Reports reaching Peiping said
Chinese government officials in
Harbin had fed to government
held Mukden in South Manchuria
by plane, fearing capture by Com
munlst troops ringing the city.
| simultaneously, an official Spokes-
man in Chungking conceded that
the Communists could take Harbin
without a struggle after Russian
troops withdraw from that impor-
tant North Manchuria city next Fri
day. He said the government has no
troops there. The Communists dom
mate North Manchuria
Harbin, $50 air miles north Of
Changchun, is the key commune
cations center for North Manchuria.
Meanwhile, in Chungking Gen.
George c. Marshall's headquarters
sought the removal of seven Ameri-
canS-five correspondents zone a
Woman) and two Army men-Who
went to Changchun last week to OBJ
serve the Russian withdrawal
Changchun Fall Confirmed.
The Chungking government
spokesman also made the startling
acknowledgement that National
troops have not captured Szepingkai
despite previous claims-and be-
latedly reported the fall of Chang
chun, the capital of Manchuria.
Chungking had no details on the
occupation.
He gave this explanation of the
battle for Szepingkai, important
railroad center about halfway be-
tween government controlled Muk-
den and Changchun: A vanguard
Of the governments new 1st Army
entered Szepingkai, met strong
Communist resistance. and halted
to consolidate its forces.
An official dispatch published in
Peiping said so government officials
had been taken prisoner in Szeping-
kai by the Communists.
City Found Devastated.
The government Peace Daily
News, in Chungking, published a
special dispatch from Szepingkai
reporting that government troops
which entered the outskirts early
this week found the city devastat-
r ed, with corpses piled many places,
including the bodies Of women and
children
1t said the government troops were
busy burying the dead and clearing
the city.
Associated Press Correspondent
Spencer Davis learned OF the flight
of Harbin officials to government
controlled Mukden, 325 air miles tc
the south, at American truce
headquarters in Peiping.
He said the Harbin officials fec
for reasons of environment"-fea
of repetition of Changchuns VIC.
lence.
However, some Peiping sources
told Mr.. Davis they doubted that a
t conflict such as Changchun's would
= follow the Soviet evacuation. eX-
o planning that the Harbin Mayor
5 never had been supported by the
y Chinese government.
= Request Made by Marshall.
f Mr., Davis said Peiping headquar-
tiers had no word concerning the
e seven Americans in Changchun
Headquarters assumed that lOC
e Chinese government officials in
! Changchun were taken into custody
t by the Communists.
Chungking officials, too. were un-
a advised of the fate of the seven
: Americans. Gen. Marshall's head
d quarters said request had been
Y made through Communist channels
: for permission for the seven Amer
: (see MANCHURIA Page A-3J
!; Berlin Fake Druq Rinq