Evening star., 1948-11-16
Reds Repu|sed
Around Suchow,
China Claims
Communists Declared
Withdrawing After
Defeat by Nationals
BY the Associoted Press


nese government claimed a ma
jor victory on the Suchow front
tonight to climax a confused
day which still left the final
outcome of the battle for the
approach to Nanking in doubt.
Pro-government newspapers COW
cred their buildings with Red posters
and exploded firecrackers to call at
tention to placards announcing that
the Communists had been routed
northeast of Suchow and were with
drawing northeastward.
That news, circulated by the De-
fense Ministry's of1icial military
news agency, was In direct contrast
to the generally accepted reports
from other sources that the govern
ment control of the whole Suchow
area was tottering.
1000 Americans Warned.
The American Embassy warned
some 1000 Americans to get out OF
China now or risk hazardous con-
ditions."
Government spokesman Holling-
ton Tong denied reports that
Suchow had fallen, Or even was
threatened with Red capture. He
told the Associated Press:
THE city is firmly in our hands
and the Reds are withdrawing to
the northeastward."
The Kuomintang Daily News,
quoting q Chinese air force source,
said reconnaissance planes had
spotted q general Communist with
drawal northward from the Suchow
front.
Reports Eyed With Reserve. :,
Neutral observers, however, con-
tinued to eye the reports with con-
siderable reserve and plans went
ahead for evacuation Of American
civilians and some others.
More than 100 British and other
foreigners are expected to join
Americans this week end when the
second evacuation ship leaves Nam
king.
The governments return to the
regular rationing of rice has con-
siderably eased the food problem
Roger Lapham. American economic
aid director. arrived in Marking to-
day with former Ambassador Will
liam C. Bullitt, who is checking
the Chinese situation for Congress
They lunched with American AM
bassador J. Leighton Stuart before
arranging for a meeting with Pres
ldent Chang Kai-shek.
A drastic shortage of gold yuan
has forced Marking banks to sharp
ly limit Withdrawals.
Victory Claims Listed.
Here are the victory claims made
by the military news agency:
l. Nine of Red Gen. Chen Yi's
columns are retreating toward
Taierhchuang. northeast Of Suchow
after a defeat by Gen. Huang Po-
taos 7th Army Corps, which fought
its way out Of an encirclement with
the aid Of mechanical troops under
Col. Chang Wei-kuo, the Presidents s
youngest son.
2. -Four Red columns attempting
to overWhelm Suhsien have been en-
circled by government troops.
3. Communist remnants are re-
treating eastward from Suchow
along the 25-mile rail line to
Payachi.
Acting under martial law, Nam
kings headquarters garrison tight
ened its grip on the capitals activ-
tiles. In a wage of arrests. pur-
portedly against subversive elements
80 persons were jailed last night
including six Chinese newspaper re-
porters and editors.
Embassy Dependents Leave.
American Embassy dependents are
being evacuated immediately. The
Embassy said the majority would
go to Manila to await clarification
of the Chinese situation.
Jacques Meyrier, French Ambas-
sador and dean of the diplomatic
corps, called meeting of the heads
of all missions in Marking to discuss
measures for the safety of diplo-
(See CHINA, Page A-4J