For the first time since the "vest-pocket war" began off China's coast, the Reds last week used airplanes against Chiang Kai-shek's island bastions. Nine Russian-built, twin-engined bombers appeared over the Nationalist-held Tachens (200 miles north of Formosa and 15 miles from the Chekiang coast) and dropped more than 40 bombs, killing five persons. Previously, during the September skirmish around Quemoy, the Reds had used artillery only, and Washington concluded that the Communists were exercising prudence to make sure that air power did not tangle with the U.S. Seventh Fleet. Apparently, the Communists are now prepared to take greater risks.
The...
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