In Hsuchow they found that the railway to the south had been cut and having no desire to be caught again, they booked air passage immediately to Shanghai. While in Hsuchow they learned from persons who had fled from Lin-i (Ichowfu) in South Shantung, that Lin-i had been taken by the Communists without a fight after the Garrison Commander had required the people to tear down their homes and places of business adjacent to the city walls in order that they might not provide the Communists with cover during an assault. Despite these precautions the city was evacuated and the Communists were able to move in unopposed. The whereabouts of the garrison of Lin-i, which amounted to at least 10,000 troops, is unknown. They also learned that the only rail traffic out of Hsuchow is to Linch’eng, 25 miles to the north.