Evening star., 1948-12-01
Nonking Air|ink to Suchow Cut;
CAPITAL Denies Move but Packs;
Nine. Chang Arrives to Ask Aid
Government DepIoys
Forces to Counter
Advancing Reds
BY the Assoeioted Press

NANKING, Dec. 1.-Two Ma
tionalist army groups were re-
ported today desperately trying
to establish a new defense line
to save this jittery capital from
advancing Chinese Communists.
Diplomats expect to hear from
the government-perhaps within "a
hours-that Nanking is no longer
safe for them. Despite govern
ment denials, it was learned re-
liably such a warning is being pre-
pared.
These developments came as the
government abruptly cut its air link
with isolated Suchow some 200 miles
northwest of Marking and deployed
its forces for a battle to save the
nations capital city.
Line 100 Miles From Marking.
A new defense line was reported
under construction on the southern
bank of the Huai River, athwart the
approaches to the Lower Yangtze
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Nanking.
The line is anchored to Pengpu.
on the rail line midway between
Nanking and Suchow. and is being
manned by the bulk of some $4,000
troops in the 9Th and 9th Army
Groups.
Those groups are the last major
Nationalist force standing between
Communist armies and Nanking.
The governments 18th Army
Group, of some 100000 troops, was
reported still tightly encircled by
seven Red columns about so miles
south of Suchow, in the Suhsien
sector.
Three other Red columns were
reported massed about Is miles
south of Suchow to block the south
ward movement of the Suchow gar
rison. The garrison. of some ESQ.,
900 men, was reported abandoning
Suchow in an attempt to rescue the
trapped 18th Army Group.
New Headquarters Set Up.
With the Nationalist armies thus
separated in three pockets and
threatened with destruction by nu-
merically superior Red forces, Nam
king circles found little comfort in
the preparations being undertaken
along the Yangtze River itself.
Gen. Tan Gen-po has set up a.
Marking Shanghai defense area
command headquarters at Wusnih,
midway between the two cities. He
has total combat force of about
10000 troops.
Thes airlift to Suchow was stopped
as the garrison troops tardily needed
orders to hurry south to relieve the
trapped forces.
Archives Being Packed.
Oficial denials that any plan
exists for moving Chinas capital
conflict with obvious activity in
every government ministry-includ-
ing the Foreign Ministry. Archives
and furnishings are being packed
for shipment.
Many officials already have been
alerted for transportation south
ward with the majority slated to go
either to Canton or Formosa.
1t was learned. that the warning
TO diplomats would suggest that
foreign missions move to Canton.
However, it was understood that the
warning would not include formal
notice that the national capital is
being moved.
This puzzled most diplomats as to
how they should receive it. The
majority of those with whom an
Associated Press correspondent
talked-although anxious to remain
with the government to which they
are accredited - doubted whether
they would leave Nanking unless
there is a formal order making Can
ton or some other city the provis-
ional capital.
Chang Reported Determined.
AS the Red armies move nearer
Nanking, a source close to General
ICoa CHINA pape A-d