Great Moments in TIME: 1946-1956

Shanghai, China The cold, muddy waters of Shanghai's Soochow Creek teemed with thousands of Chinese junks and smaller sampans. Terrified refugees were preparing once more to flee before the surging tide of communism. Nevertheless, the great majority of Chinese were becoming more reconciled to the prospects of communist rule. The cagey Reds had switched to a "soft" line ... In Chengchow, ... two Shanghai cotton brokers reported "all was quiet." Their warehouse of cotton had been untouched by the communists. Said a Red officer: "When the kettle belonged to Chiang, we tried to break it; now that it is ours,...