Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-29
Chang Orders
ArmyChiefs 10
Decisive Talks
Flight of Government
To Formoso Hinted if
Marking Is Attacked
BY the Associated Press

NANKING, Dec. 29.-From all
corners of China today came
Nationalist military leaders to
talk war or peace with General
issimo Chang Kai-shek.
The President, urged by many to
quit, called the conference. which
probably will start tomorrow. On
its decision may rest the future of
Nationalist China, beset on the
north by conquering Communists.
Even as the warlords, generals
and leaders arrived in Marking, a
government source revealed that a
Red underground organization was
hard at work only 2 miles from the
capital.
Formosa Governor Named.
A hint that Gen. Chang, or his
Nationalist leaders under a new
chief, would carry on the fight came
late in the day. Gen. Chen Cheng,
former army chief of staff, was ap-
pointed governor of Formosa by the
executive yuan (counciD.
His appointment, plus the fact the
navy and air force have moved some
of their headquarters units to the
big island off the coast half way be-
tween Shanghai and Canton, might
presage flight Of Gen. Chiangs gov
eminent there if Marking is at
tackled
North of the Yangtze it appeared
almost all over for Gen. Chiang's
men. A few pockets held out,
notably in Peiping and Tientsin. and
Gen. Tu Li-ming's Red-surrounSed
force so miles south of Suchow.
None seemed to have any chance of
getting out.
Conferees are Listed.
Best available sources here said
the following would attend the
policy making conference:
Gen. Flu Tso-yi. whose military
reputation faded fast when his
armies were trapped in Tientsin and
Peiping. Gen. Flu was not on the
original list of army commanders
invited to the conference. but he was
reported en- route by plane from
Peiping.
Gen. Pal Chung-hsi former De-
Tense Minister whose Hankow area
troops. many of whom have already
moved into Marking, are among the
few good armies left to the Nation
alists.
Gen. Chang Chih-chung, veteran
Northwest China leader, a general
without armies but with considerable
influence particularly among the
middle readers" Of the Kuomintang
(GovernmenO Party.
Gen, HUI Tsung-nan, Sian COM
mander whose capture of the Com
munist capital Of Yenan subsequent
ly was blotted by long succession
of defeats at the hands of the Reds.
Yunan Governor Present.
Lu Han, Governor of Yunnan
Province. whose gateway into Burma
and India makes his area important
to any Chinese government. Re-
portedly Lu conferred in Hong Kong
with his tribal brother" Lung Yum,
former Yunnan governor who was
placed under house arrest by Gen.
Chang during the Japanese war
after his removal from his Running
Office by force.
Yen Hsi-shan, war lord governor
Of the besieged Shansi capital of
Taiyuan, who told newsmen here
that Il would rather die in defense
of my city than surrender it to the
Reds"
Ma Hung-kwei, hard riding gov
error of Ninghsia Province, who
may fly here for the conference.
Meeting with the group likely will
be Vice President Ii Tsung -jen, De-
Tense Minister Hsu Yung chang,
Chief of Staff Ku Chu-tung and
Gen. Chang.
One report said T. v. Soong,
brother in-law of Gen. Chang and
the only civilian governor left in
Nationalist China, was flying here
from Canton to join the conference.
Peace Rumors Fill Marking.
Marking was filled with rumors of
peace. One source described the
forthcoming meeting as roll call"
of those national leaders who still
retain personal following, either
military or civil, in order to de-
.(See CHINA, Page A-4J