Evening star., 1948-11-12
Chang Troops
Beat Off Flank
Attack by Reds
Routing of 9 Columns
Delays Timetable in
Big Suehow Bottle
BY the Associated Press

NANKING, Nov. 12.-Savage
Nationalist attacks repeatedly
routed nine Red Columns at the
Grand Canal today in the man.
moth Suchow battle.
The Communists, pro-government
newspapers said, withdrew in dis
order, leaving $1,000 dead and
wounded. They had tried to sneak
$4,000 Tsinan veterans across the
canal for an attack on Suchow's
left flank, 80 miles east of the gov
ernment bastion.
(The Communist radio heard
: In Peiping, said the Reds were
annihilating the 7th National
Army Corps east of SuchoW and
had cooped up the I'd Army Corps
west of the town. The Red radio
said two National divisions went
over to the Communists on Mon
day north of SuchowJ
20 Charges Turned Back.
The fight at the canal was bloody.
The Nationalists were credited with
turning back more than 20 Red
charges. The Reds, reports said,
were using what the Chinese call
human sea" tactics-waves of men
charging almost shoulder to shoulder.
Automatic weapons and low flying
straflng planes took heavy toll.
The newspapers called it a major
victory. But observers agreed that
at best it might only delay the Red
timetable by three weeks at most.
The big battle of Suchow. largest
in Asiatic history, is still to be
decided.
More than 100000 combatants
have been committed by the warning
Chinese factions.
Chang Reported at Scene.
The Catholic newspaper. vi Shih
Pao, said President Chang Kai-shek
few to Suchow. ITO miles to the
northwest, during the canal battle.
This report was not confirmed. But
1t was obvious that the government
was now throwing as many planes
as possible into the struggle.
Foreign diplomats in Marking
generally expected Gen. Chang to
order the capital transferred south
ward in view of his decision to carry
on what he calls his eight years of
war" against the Reds.
Several said, however, that such
a move must be made soon or no
diplomats will be able to accompany
it." That was how critically they
viewed Markings future.
U. S. Dependents Leaving.
American dependents were leav-
ing in United States Air Force and
Marine transport planes operating
from the same busy Nanking air.
field used by Chinese war craft.
They were being flown to Shanghai
and Tsingtao to board ships for
home.
All dependents in Marking, orig
finally numbering about 1000. were
expected to be out of the troubled
city by midnight.
United States consular officials
urged American women and chill
dren at Tsingtao to evacuate be-
cause Of the spreading hostilities.
Americans in the Peiping- -Tientsin
and Shanghai-Nanking areas had
received similar advice week ago,
but Tsingtao had been considered
the safest place in China because
of the presence of United States
warships.
Those who intend to remain at
Tsingtao were warned to prepare
for the problems of personal safety,
disposition of possessions and food
supplies"
Under martial law, life in the
capital was almost normal. There
was little excitement and no dis
orders-a sharp contrast from the
food riots of recent days.
Markings city gates are closed
every night, and shops are barred.
Most Europeans in Nanking re-
mained undecided on whether to
evacuate the battle e-threatened city,
but increasing numbers of their
dependents were arranging to re-
turn to their homelands or seek
the relatively safe havens of Hong
Kong or South China.