Evening star., 1949-05-15
Reds Penetrate
Main Shanghai
Defense Ring
Moving on Woosune
10 Miles Awoy to
Bottle Up City by SEQ
Picture on Page Az
By the Assecieted Pres.

BY the Associetsd Press
SHANGHAI. Sunday. May Is
Chinese Communist troops today
appeared to have fought into
Shankhai's main defense ring and
were a scant 10 miles from Woo
sung. the city's escape hatch to
the sea.
Shelling could be seen from
skyscrapers.
Artillery and demolition blasts
punctuated by machine gun fire
could be heard clearly in down
town Shanghai as the battle ragged
less than 10 miles from the city
at some points.
Throughout the night. shells
caused fires along the northwest
horizon. Small villages were burn
ing in the vicinity of the Chinese
air forces Kiangwan airport, about
three miles north of Shanghai
proper.
Two -pronged Attack.
The Communists were trying by
night to move down on Woosung
from their positions hardly 10
miles away on the west. If the
Reds seize Woosung, Shanghai will
be bottled up by sea. 1t stands
guard over the Whangpoo River.
which carries Shanghai's shipping
to the broad Yangtze.
OF the two-pronged attack the
Reds are directing at Shanghai,
the northwest one is the most per-
sistent. 1t also appears the Ma
tionalists are fighting back de-
terminedly in that area.
The morning brought no very
specific reports from the battle
ground. which can be seen from
Shanghai's tall buildings.
AS dawn broke. the cannonad-
ing was clearly visible from the
18th floor Of a building on Shang-
hals waterfront. AS shells burst.
fires fiared up and died. Villages
seemed to explode on the hori-
zon.
The continued Shelling was
breeding a dull sort of worry that
the Nationalists meant it when
they said they intended to fight
for the city.
Within 10 Miles of Airport.
There was nothing new on the
southwest front. where the Reds
at their most advanced point once
got within 10 miles of vital Lung
wha airfield.
1t appears this drive has Jagged
while the pressure was increased
on Woosung. Airlines still oper-
ated from Lungwha but warned
they may suspend at a moment S
notice.
The fighting on the northwest
was confused and fluid.
The Nationalist garrison report
ed all penetrations were beaten
back" but acknowledged with
drawal from Kunshan, Taichang
and Kiating, which. for the past
week. had been the defense's ad-
vanced outposts northwest of
Shanghai.
(The nearest, Kiating, Is IA
miles northwest of Shanghai.
The Communist radio said Red
troops had captured all those
points and also Lotien. only 13
miles from Shanghai and 10
miles west of Woosung)
Fight on for Woosung.
Woosung, one of the worlds
most vulnerable ship passageways.
resounded to the roar Of the
nearby fighting.
The latest Nationalist COM
munique said Red units had been
beaten back around the villages of
Shihtselin. Yuehpu and Yang
chang, 10 to Is miles from Woo
sung. None of these places shows
on available maps of the Shang-
hal area)
1t was obvious that the Reds
were aiming at the vital maritime
gateway and that 1t was in great
peril.
This drive towards Woosung
seemed to betoken Red intentions
to- take Shanghai. They could
maintain a siege and let the
American Economic Cooperation
Administration feed this city Of
more than 5000 ,0o0-but not II
they block the Whangpoo.
There would not seem to be
much point In taking Woosung
unless the Reds intended to take
Shagnhai Immediately.
Three Ships Sail.
While the artillery's deep
throated roar continued yesterday.
throated roar continued today.
one Norwegian and two American
ships sailed down the Whangpoo
and out to sea. Ironically. per-
haps, q small Chinese merchant
ship came in with ECA rice.
The United States Nays In
fantry landing craft made its reg
ular run out to the Yangtze an
chorage of the American destroy
ers John w. Thomason and Hen
~ w. Tucker and q tank-landing
ship. No departing citizens went
along, however. American Consul
General John Cabot said all AM
ericans wishing TO leave had al
ready done 80.
Meanwhile. the British Con-
sulate issued q final evacuation
notice to British subjects. 1t said
the last opportunity to leave for
Hong Kong by air or sea" was
being organized for '.the next few
days" with tonight as the dead
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