Evening star., 1947-01-30
China RedsCut.
American Link
With Peipiing
Communists Capture
Section Of RuiIwoy
Line to Tientsi1
BY the Assoeiofed Press

SHANGHAI, Jan. 30.-Com-
munist forces in North China cut
the vital Peiping -Tientsin Rail
way today, shortly after the an
nouncement that American mill
tary units are being withdrawn
from China.
The Communists severed, tenn
porarily at least, the route over
which American forces must with
draw from Peiping, site of the truce
headquarters that will be aban-
doned with the emo of America s
long but futile peace efforts.
Associated Press Correspondent
John Roderick reported from Tient-
sin that the railway link was cut
at Weishanchuang, about midway
between Tientsin and Peiping
Fighting still ragged there.
Before the Communists attacked
the governments rail artery, Amer
ican aut norities in Peiping discred-
tied reports that the Communists
might attack the city before Amer
ican personnel left.
They asserted the Communists
were too weak to take either Peiping
or Tientsin, although they could
delay or imperil the American with
drawal by damaging the railway
whicl1is just what they did. How
ever, such disruptions ordinarily
can be quickly repaired.
It was the first serious Com
munist attack on the railway, which
once was guarded by American Ma
rines, and was different from the
sniping and ambushes in which Ma
1ines were caught several times.
Mr.. Roderick said the Weishan-
chuang railway station was burned
a section of track destroyed" and
the attackers were in such force that
the government sent up an armored
train from TientSin.
Heavier Fighting Seen.
The countryside along the route
teens with bands of Communist
guerrillas although not equipped OF
organized for any major offensive.
Observers in Peiping, in common
with many in other Chinese cities
were convinced, however, that the
withdrawal of all American media
tors would invite heavier fighting
They predicted that both. the gov.
ernment and the Communists woule
try to make drives in Manchuria
and North China.
While both government and Com.
munist leaders speculated over thu
effects Of the departure of tht
Americans, informed sources ir
Nanking predicted that all Com.
munist Iiaison Offices in government,
territory would be closed with thu
possible exception of Markings.
They pointed out that government
military commanders long had com.
planned of the presence of top
notch Communists in Marking
Shanghai and Chungking, where
they were able to observe and re-
port to Yenan.
Under terms Of last years agree
ment establishing mediation ma
chinery, Secretary of State Mar
shall, then special American envoy
pledged that the United States
would return Communists from
executive headquarters at Peiping
as we'll as liaison officers, to Com.
munist territory.
Withdrawal of the United State.
Marines, which American source!
in Peiping said would follow thu
departure of the LOCO Army ane
civilian personnel from Peipins
quarters, will leave few American
military forces in China.
There still will remain the Navy:
training school in Tsingtao and the
military advisory group in China
both small. Either could pull out
easily on orders from Washington
Despite the danger that both sides
may come out shooting with ali
guns, the American withdrawal was
expected here to meet not only the
wishes of Yenan but a fairly large
section of public opinion in gov
ernnent China.