Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-31
A FIRsT-HAND REPORT
a ERsT-4AND REPORT
On the Front Lines in Quemoy and Matsu
BY DON FRIFIELD
Special Writer for The star

BY DON FRIFIELD
Special Writer for The star
TAIPEI, Formosa. Once again
the recurring crisis Of China's or
shore islands is on the front pages
Of the world. Two miniature archi-
pelagos, the Quemoy and Matsu,
blocking mainland Annoy and Foo
chow, are still held by the Nation
alist armies headed by Generals
simo Chang Kai-shek. Now the
Communists are building UP their
Jet air strength nearby: One new
field. at Changchow, is only 30
miles west Of Quemoy, itself $50
miles from Taiwan (Formosa), the
Nationalist island stronghold.
Since q week ago Saturday the
heavy artillery has been lobbing
into Quemoy from the Commu-
nist-held islands and mainland
surrounding the tiny Nationalist
Chinese outpost.
The MICS have been in mass
night again. over both Quemoy
and MatSu. the first time in many
months that the Communist
planes have come so close to the
miniature fortresses within sight
of the mainland coast. Both island
groups are on emergency alert,
and Taiwan has been bracing for
what may become the great at
tempt to capture them.
The islands are real nuisanceS
TO Communist China, providing a
base for propaganda, espionage
expeditions, commando raids, and
harassment Of her vital coastal
shipping.
American Intervention?
The Sino-American Mutual De-
Tense Treaty does not specify that
an attack on the offshore islands
would itself constitute an attack
on Formosa, which would bring
full-scale American military In
PREVENTION.
The United States It'll Fleet,
now roaming the area in a mood
of perpetual alert, is committed
TO the defense of Formosa itself
and the outlying Pescadores archi-
pelago. But the 18th Fleets defense
of the offshore islands-the Que
moy and Matsu groups-would de-
pend on an American evaluation
that an attack against them
would actually, imperil Formosa
itself. This leaves the treaty
somewhat unclear. If revised to
state specifically that an attack
against the offshore islands would
in fact endanger Formosa and
come under the purview Of the
treaty and the 7th Fleet, there
would be no doubt of American
intentions.
Suggestions for the treaty
amendment allegedly come from
United States military leaders re-
Gently in the Quemoy area on an
inspection trip. The Nationalist
Chinese themselves believe ,unof-
ficially that the treaty amend
ment would free $4,000 of the
10000 troups now in the oftshore
islands for other duties. Quemoy
itself counts probably about $4,000
troops.
Proponents of the treaty change
believe it would be heartening
propaganda victory for the anti
Communist forces, undermining
American determination to defend
Nationalist China, and as state
ment of faith in the eventual re-
demption of the Communication
mated $50 million Chinese on the
mainland.
Flight to Quemoy
On a visit to Quemoy I few
from Taipei, the Nationalist cap
ital on Formosa, on Chinese Air
Force DC-3 with reclining seats.
Coffee and cake were served by
steward during the flight, who also
offered late-issue magazines from
the United States. Flying time was
80 minutes, a dog-leg route south
along the west coast of Formosa,
then west over the Pescadores to
q high-speed, low-level landing at
Quemoy's little airfield.
Our altitude was low to make
let plane attacks a trifle difficult.
Our DC-3 was completely I'M
armed, makes the fight several
times a week to carry visitors,
supplies and troop requirements.
The tiny island would fit into
Brooklyn with room to space. 1t
is set like a momentarily benign
tumor in the very belly of main
land China, blocking the South
China port of Annoy.
Until recently life had been rela-
lively calm for the 10000 civilians
who live on Quemoy. They had
long grown used to the nighttime
artillery exchange. Because Of
large-scale emigration from Que
moy, most have relatives among
the ID million overseas Chinese,
mostly in southeast Asia.
The black-clad Quemoy farmer
tills the scrabbly, rocky soil and