The Key West Citizen

Red China Sinks Nationalist Destroyer Escort With Torpedo Boats; Stronger Measures Seen

TAIPEH, Formosa - Red China used torpedo boats for the first time in battle yesterday to sink the 1,800 ton Nationalist destroyer escort Taiping.

This development in the long civil war was viewed generally by the Nationalists as a stark warning of stronger Red measures to come.

The Taiping, formerly the USS Decker until transferred to the Nationalists in 1946, was attacked at 1:45 a.m. by four swift torpedo boats, which the Nationalists said were Russian-built.

The destroyer, with 180 men aboard, was convoying a motorized junk from the Tachen Islands, 30 miles off the coast of Chekiang province and 215 miles north of Formosa, to nearby Yushan Island. The first torpedo missed, but a later one hit amidships, well below the waterline, Chinese press reports said. The reports said she sank "with guns blazing," six hours later.

A sister destroyer escort, the Taiho, picked up most of the crew, including the captain. Search continued for five officers and 26 naval ratings.

One of the rescued died, and many others were wounded, the Nationalists said.

Nationalist reaction was strong. The official Central Daily News described the attack as a "prelude to an offensive against Formosa."

The Hsin Sheng Pao, which speaks for the provincial government of Formosa, urged Nationalists to start a "defensive offensive" against the Reds.

There was considerable thought here that the U.S. 7th Fleet, guarding Formosa against any invasion move by the Communists, has been on patrol near the Tachens.

One question being asked is: What if the Taiping had been flying the American flag?

The Nationalist view of the incident, which is Red China's first such naval victory, was summed up by Shen Chang-huan, acting foreign minister.

He said the sinking served as a warning to those who persist in believing the Chinese Reds want peace and do not intend to invade Formosa. Most non-Chinese quarters in Taipeh, however, still doubt the Reds would presently violate the defense zone which the 7th Fleet is committed to defend.

That zone embraces Formosa, the Pescadores and other satellite islands of Formosa, but not the Tachens or other coastal islands.

As a result of the Taiping incident, Nationalists may press the United States for:

1. Inclusion of Nationalist-held outpost islands just off the Red China coast in the 7th's defense zone.

2. Speedy conclusion of a mutual defense pact.

3. Increased military aid to meet any Red threat to the offshore islands and Formosa itself.

It also is possibly the Nationalists will seek an understanding with Washington to enable them to bomb Communist air and naval bases.

The Taiping episode has created a more explosive situation than has existed at any time since the Nationalists were driven off the mainland in 1949.

Peiping radio claimed the Taiping was sunk while on a "nuisance raid."

Peiping also said Reds in the past two months had damaged three other destroyers and a gunboat, shot down 21 Nationalist planes and damaged 67.