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Communists In
New Drive On
Yangtse Front
NANKING, April 18. A.A.P.
Communist forces on the north
bank of the Yangtse River. to-day
aunched a new off:nsive against
Nationalist positions in the Chin
kiang sector, 40 miles east of Nan
king.
The Nationalist military news
agency said the Nationalists had
evacuated two bridgeheads north
east of Chinkiang.
Simultaneously with their new
drive, the Communists began an
artillery bombardment of the south
bank of the Yangtse.
Li's Problem.
The Acting President (General
Li Isung-jen) has 72 hours It which
to reply to 'a Communist .ulttma?
he must determine whether to
submit to tha, demand that Com
munist forces be permitted peace
fully to cross to tne south bank
of the Yangtse, or see tltns force
a crossing.
Military observers in Nanking
:onsidered General Li would get
:he support of the Kuomintang
militarists in attempting unified re
sistance, if Cabinet decided not to
concede to the Communist de
mands.
The Communist radio earlier an
nounced it had fixed April 20 as
the deadline for Nationalist accept
ance.of the Communist peace pro
slramme. , .
The programme, it is believed,
contains a Communist da?iiand tlat
Lommunist torces should come
south of the Yangtse after tile
peace settlement.
The radio said the programme
comprised 24 points and eight
articles based on Mao Ts.-tung's
January 14 eight peace terms.
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