Chungking, May 23.
ECLATING that the Communists will never cooperate with Wang Ching-wei, Mr. Chow En-lai, prominent Communist leader who represents the Comm uriist Party in Chungking, stated the Chinese Communist army had already started operations against the Japanese in South Si hansi in order to cooperate with Central Government forces.
He asserted this in a letter published in this morning's "Ta Kung Pao" replying to an appeal made by the Chinese paper on May 2) that Communist troops should move immediately in support of Central Government forces in the south Shansi battle.
"Mr. Chow En-lai explained that since last year in accordance with an order of the High Command Come munist forces had withdrawn to the Chang river line in order to avoid friction with Central Forces. At present there are no Communist troops in the Chungtiao mountains.
While admitting the importance of the Chungtiao mountains, the Communist leader pointed out that other mountain ranges were equally important—Kwantsengshan in the north dominates an area outside the Great Wall Wutaishan in the north-east connects Hopei and Chahar. Toisungshan in the east connects the Hopei plains, Luiliangshan guards the area west of the Yellow river. while Taiyoshan controls the Fen river valley Doubt Removed Commenting on Mr, Chow En-lai's letter the "Ta Kung Pao" expressed gratification over the Communists' determination to uphold national unity and resist the Japanese. adding. "What has been worrying the Chinese public is the Lact that there has been friction between the Communists and the Government and, with the conclusion of the Soviet-Japanese neutrality pact. it has been asked whether future Communist policy will be affected by the pact.
"The active cooperation of the Communist troops with the Central forces will remove this doubt."
The Communists Party organ, the "Sin Hua Jih Pao," this morning featured a report that Communist units had started operations on May 12 against the Japanese in Shansi and Hopei, attacking communication lines in order to support the Central forces in_the Chungtiao mountains.
The Communist units were said to be particularly active along the highway between Sinhsien and Chinyang.
Meanwhile Chinese despatches reported that the Japanese occupying the crossings on the north bank of the Yellow river in south Shansi were daily shelling the Chinese positions on the south bonk of the Yellow river—Reutes
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.