Evening star., 1950-05-06
Key Formosa Outpost
Pounded All Day by
Chinese Red Guns
by the Asseeioted Pres.

TAIPEI. Formosa, May g.
Chinese Communist artillery
pounded the Nationalists naval
and air base of Chusan, key de-
tense outpost for Formosa, all day
yesterday, dispatches reported to-
day.
1t was 10 pm. before joint ac-
ton by Nationalist land, air and
naval forces silenced the Red
guns. official reports said. The
bombardment came from King
tang Island and was directed at
Tinghai, Chusan capital, 3 miles
away.
Chusan is the main island of an
archipelago of the same name
that juts into the East China Sea
about 100 miles southeast of
Shanghai. The Communists hold
several islands in the group but
the Nationalists have clung to
ChuSan. main base for their
blockade of the big Red port.
Chusan Next Target?
The Nationalists say Chusan is
next on the Red timetable. The
dispatches reported Communist
invasion craft were continuing to
mass in Kingtang Harbor and at
Chinhai, mainland port Is miles
west of Tinghai.
The Nationalists said Red artil-
lerymen took advantage of the
weather yesterday, opening up
when Nationalist planes were
grounded.
Weather is an important factor
at this stage of the civil war.
If the NationalistS can keep
the Reds from Formosa until the
end of June they expect the
weather to take care of this bas-
tion's defense until next year.
Last month heavy fog kept Ma
tionalist planes on Hainan for
three straight days and gave the
Reds an opportunity to mass junks
for their successful invasion of
the big island off South China.
Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek
gave his explanation for Hainan's
abandonment in a speech observ-
ing today's 29th anniversary of
the founding of the Nationalist |
revolutionary government in Can
ton.
The Nationalists, he said, had
done their best to defend the
island not only as a base for
future Nationalist counterattacks
on the Red mainland but also for
the protection of countries in
Southeast Asia from the Com
munist tide"
He blamed defeat on two fac
tors: Cd the sapping of his regime
by II continuous years of war
against the Japanese and the
Chinese Reds; CD Southeast
Asia's own failure to realize their
stake in the Nationalist's battle
against communism which he
described--as mot a problem Of
China alone but a question for the
entire world"
Chang said his military officials
advised him last December the
Nationalists were not strong
enough" to defend Hainan and
the wise course would be to con-
centrate on Formosas S defense. He
added:
But I told them the position of
Hainan was important not only
to China but also to the whole Of
Southeast Asia.
Must Warn Them
Although countries in South
east Asia might not have a clear
understanding of the situation, !
we must warn them and give them {
to understand that we would de-
fend Hainan and would not aban-
don the island unless it was alb
solutely necessary.
But unfortunately in the past
three months no response to our
informal warning had come from
the countries concerned in South
east Asia.
THE Communists launched a
large-scale attack on Hainan last
month. We had done our best
in defending the island and in
protecting our neighboring coun-
tries. We were compelled to
Withdraw from the island