A FOREIGN LEGION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 121, 4 March 1936, Page 8

A FOREIGN LEGION

FORMATION IN MONGOLIA. A Mongol fugitive, Prince Enturga, who lias escaped across the frontier through Clialiar, has given me a vivid description of the warlike preparations in the Outer Mongolian capital, says a writer in the “Daily Telegraph.” The situation has become tense following recent border incidents between Soviet and Mancliukuo soldiers. A complete foreign legion, estimated at 10,000 men, comprising mostly Siberian tribesmen, has been established in a modern camp outside Urga, where they are drilled under Russian officers. The Prince noticed other Europeans, including Germans. The camp is completely encircled by barbed wire, and entrance is forbidden to outsiders on pain of death. Few native Mongols, with the exception of some cavalry, are included in the force. The units comprise infantry, mountain gun and camel corps, field batteries of 75’s, many tanks, large and small, numbers of armoured ears, and engineers. The most severe discipline is maintained. An army of similar size is maintained at a convenient distance from Lake Buirnor, where Manchukuo troops are active, and at other important points in Mongolio. All are under a central command at Urga, which is in constant wireless communication with Krabarovsk, Moscow and Chita. Three aerodromes have been built at Urga, and the construction of barracks and administration buildings is proceeding .rapidly. Prince Enturga counted 200 aeroplanes one day at the military field, including several extremely large bombers. At a recent demonstration 200 machines were in the air simultaneously, many dropping detachments of men by parachute. The virtual annexation of the six southern districts of the Cliahar Province of Northern China provides Japan’s military response to these preparations. The Japanese base at Dolonor is rapidly assuming formidable military proportions, and the site for an aerodrome has already been levelled. Reports are current that the Soviet is actively assisting in the modernisation of the Western China Communist army with the object of employing it as reinforcements in the event of a Japanese-Soviet conflict.