Evening star., 1955-02-19
New Red Threat Seen
Imminent 10 Nanchi,
Vital Chang Outpost
By John A. Giles

BY John A. Giles
Generaliss1mo Chang Kali
shek will have to decide in a
matter of weeks whether his
Chinese Nationalist troops should
eyacuate another offshore island.
Informed sources predicted to-
day the pressure of events will
force on Chang a shorrible de-
cision" with reference to the
future of Nanchl. rocky inolar-
shaped island. 20 miles from the
Communist held mainland and
120 miles Northwest of the Ma
tionalist Island Of Formosa. This
time, it was indicated, the United
States is not pressuring the
Nationalist leader one way or
the other.
But the decision must be faced,
these insormants said, despite
new claims Of Nationalist sea
victories in the area.
In fact. there was an inclina-
ton here to doubt the National
ist naval claims. Those claims
were being checked very care
fully" at the Pentagon. It was |
pointed out they had not been |
verified from any tother source.
Since the Nationalist withdraw
al from the Tachens, the Nanchi |
island group stands as the
northernmost picket line against
the Communist invasion Of For
mosa. They are now heavily re-
inforced and equipped for radar. |
Nanchi itself is a rocky up
thrust barely a mile long, 800
yards wide at its broadest point
and 750 feet high. /
Chang has indicated unwill-
ingness to accept loss of Nanchi.
He has reinforced its garrison.
numbering less than 10000
troops, with some of the 1000
guerrillas that were removed
from the Tachens.
Some civilians already have
been removed from Nanchi, how
ever.
Washington sources said pat
tern of Chinese Communist
moves has started that could
rapidly place the islands in
jeopardy.
Two Moves. /
The moves include these:
l.. The Communists are fever
ishly making preparations to
base Jet fighter planes at the
mainland city of Haimen, about
20 miles from Nanchi. This could
give the Reds air superiority over
the islands but they face the tre- ,
mendous task of supplying the
planes with fuel once they are
based at Haimen. There are lit
tie or no real facilities available.
2. Although the Red fleet of ,
80 to go motor torpedo boats has
not yet appeared at Wenchow. s
1t can be assumed the Commu- {
nists will select this base about I
80 miles from Nanchi. This
would endanger Nationalist t
ships supplying the garrison. @
More Softening-up.
Thus the Reds would be fol- n
lowing their familiar softening- i,
up process. If successful, the 4
moves would place the island c
group in the same military posi- =
ton that caused the evacuation
oil the Tachens except that this
time the Communists would have 4
no shore-based artillery close
to aid their attacks.
Doubt is expressed on whether
the Nationalist fleet could ac-
any projected evacua-
ton so close to the Communist -
bases without American aid and y.
naval aid. = =
President Eisenhower would :
have authority to order aid if -
he considered it necessary. u :,
If the present Communist :,
is successful, it is felt =
here, the Reds undoubtably will +,
move south along the coast to
threaten Matsu Island, which is e
$50 miles southwest of Nanchi a
and stands in the approaches to h
Foochow, opposite the b
northern end of Formosa. Then, o
1t is assumed they would con-
tinue moving southwark to put 9
pressure on Quemoy and Little f.
Quemoy, which lie within the 6
outer harbor of Annoy, one of "
the Communists most important W
ports. H.
Because of the necessity of O
building airfields and transport
as they go, they could hardly 81
hope to complete the conquest 81
OF all the off-shore islands before $
the end of 1855. But the threat =
to Nanchi could become appar- b
ent in few weeks, r