Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-18
Nationalist Rule
In North China
Falling Apart
Reds Peril Peiping;
More Officials Due
To Quit Marking
By the Associated Press

NANKING, Jan. 18.-National-
list North China was falling apart
today, and foreign diplomats ex-
pected momentarily to be mott
fled that the Marking govern
ment was being dispersed for
safety reasons.
An order to this effect, an authori-
tative Foreign Office source said, is
being prepared. But, he added, that
does not mean Marking is being
abandoned as the capital. 1t will
remain as such as long as General
issimo Chan Kai-shek stays here.
Neither, he said, will the Chinese
Foreign Office ask foreign diplomats
to pull out of the potential battle
ground. Instead, they will be told
that the Chinese government nc
longer can be responsible for the
safety of those who choose to re-
main Almost all embassies are
expected to stay on.
Peiping Fall Expected.
Meanwhile, the old capital OF
Peiping, encircled by Red armies, is
expected to fall or surrender mo-
A newspaper published
by Peiping's commander, Gen. Flu
Tso-yi, limited as much, dispatches
from there said.
Marking filled with more defend
ing National troops as the govern
ment pulled back its forces from
north of the Yangtze.
There was some diSsension in for
eign quarters as National troops
moved into the Marking area. For
eign-owned and Chinese properties
were seized as billets.
Various foreign embassies, includ-
ing the American, protested the
seizures to the Foreign Office. One
diplomat said the Chinese Foreign
Office was cooperating excellently
Nevertheless, Chinese troops moved
in and held the Standard Oil Co. S
Pukow installations, where a new
tank farm is under construction.
Another Seizure Stopped.
On the Marking side of the
Yangtze, an artillery unit started to
move into another Standard Oil in
stallation where considerable
stock of gasoline is stored, but
prompt action of the Foreign Min
istry halted the move.
The government Foreign Office, as
usual, had no comment on the re-
ported plan of dispensing the Ma
tional government. But usually re-
liable sources said the notification
will say that the Foreign Office itself
is being moved southWard-probably
to Canton-while other National
ministries are being scattered into
areas well below the Yangtze River
The afternoon newspaper, Mel Jill
Wan Pao, said the notification al
ready had been given the foreign
embassies. But a Foreign Once
spokesman denied this.
Defense Held Weak.
Despite mushrooming peace move
ments from dozens of official and
semiofficial organizations, prepare
lions for the defense Of Marking
continued. Only another change OF
mind by Gen. Chang will prevent
this capital from becoming another
Tientsin with the possibility of its
being subjected to Red artillery fire
from across the Yangtze.
Most observers feel that prepara-
lions to hold Marking are exceed
ingly weak.
Garrison commander Tan Gen-po,
who has now absorbed the former
East China Command from Su-
elbows defender, Gen. Liu Shih, is
willing to fight, but he has little left
with which to attempt even a sue
cessful holding action against the
powerful Reds.
Evacuation of Marking speeded
up during the day as the Commu-
nications Ministry ordered a special
train daily to carry government
workers to Shanghai.