Evening star., 1949-01-15
China Reds Take
1ientsin, Afire
After She||ing
Communists Free Now
For Attack Against
Port Of Toneku
By the Assoeioted Press

SHANGHAI, Jan. 13.-The
great commercial city of Tient-
sin, battered by Communist
shells and afire in several places
fell to Chin Reds today In
what may ue the crowning blow
to Generalissimo Chang Kai-
shek.
Victorious troops of Gen. Lin
Piao, Red conqueror of Manchuria
seized the burning city after a
fierce artillery barrage that devas-
tated old landmarks and many
buildings.
Radio reports from the gateway
10 North China" described the city
of 100000 as one of death and
desolation
Many civilians were killed. Hos
pitfalls were jammed with wounded.
Robert Smyth of Berkeley. Calf.
American Consul General, radioed
that all of his staff was safe.
so far as can be ascertained, all
other Americans tabout 80 in num-
berl are safe" Mr.. Smyth radioed.
Fire Rifles in Air.
Down broad Victoria road. which
winds through the heart of the
former British concession. the Red
conquerors marched. stopping in
front of the American Consulate to
fire their rifles into the air.
Before the United States Informa-
ton Service Office in the former
French concession, few blocks
away. they stopped and fired their
rifles into the air again as Ameri-
cans watched from the roof of the
building.
Confirmation of Tientsin's fall
came in messages received in Nam
king, where the blow to the Ma
tionalist cause is certain to have
terrific repercussions.
Peiping. 80 miles northeast OF
Tientsin and headquarters of Gen
Flu Tso-yi, Nationalist North China
commander, reported only that the
Reds had entered Tientsin.
Troops Freed for Tangku.
Victory at Tientsin frees Gen
Lin's troops for an all-out assault on
the port of Tangku, 27 miles down
the Hal River, and Taku, rail ter
minal, opposite Tangku on the river
front.
Peiping may be the next city at
tackled by the infuriated Reds, whose
leader, Mao Tse-tung, only yesterday
laid down an eight -pcEt peace pro-
gram and punctuated it with the
boast that more military victories
would bring Gen. Chiangs govern
ment to it's knees.
The reaction Of offlcialdom in
Nanking to h.s eight peace terms" :"
according to James D. White. As
sociated Press correspondent there,
was to vanish into meetings, tnclud-
ing one of the cabinet.
The meetings, said Mr.. White, had
been scheduled previously, but took
on an emergency air as National
officials discussed the latest Red de-
mands for what appears virtually
unconditional surrender.
Unofficial Chinese reaction was
that MaoS terms were very fierce
and leave no room for bargaining.
Demands Held Too High.
Chang Chien-hua, Manchuriar
legislator who has been promoting
his own peace program, said:
The Red demands are too high
just like Chang Kai-shek's. How
ever, as long as they express interest
Sin peace there is still hope, but il
they really want peace they will
have to soften their demands tc
some extent. For instance, theil
demands that war criminals be
prosecuted are ambiguous, they
could include anybody, therefore
they are out of the question. This
may freeze peace moves for the
time being but they will continue
Shao Lite, Marking elder states
man who has been advocating peace
and refused. post in the present
Chinese cabinet. said:
The government will have tt
consider these terms. 1t does not
mean the door to peace is closed"
The Communist radio Friday
(See CHINA, Page A-2)