RUSSIA ADMITS FIGHTING JAPANESE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 178, 31 July 1939, Page 7

RUSSIA ADMITS FIGHTING JAPANESE.

MONGOLIA BORDER.

General Warns War Would Be Nippon Disaster.

PURGE STORIES DENIED

liirlopmdpnt Cable Service

(Rerpivpd Hi.3o n.m.)

MOSCOW, Jiilv 30.

Colonel Bogoliihoff, a member of the Soyiel General Staff, writing in "I>.vp»lin." frankly admits That Soviet 'plane-., tanks, artillery and troops hit lighting the Japanese force- on Ihe Outer Mongol border. He warn-. Japan that a war against the Soviel can only end in defeat for the I'H-cist usurpers. Fie asserts thnt the Soviet Army is the most poufTl'il in the world. (irnrral Khol/nnoff and tliree other hijrh Air Kurcp officers were killed in a crush. An official communique states that (Jenernl Kliolziinoff and hi* brother officers were killed while fulfilling duties.

Many Army officers, including Marshal Vornshiloff and his aides, have signed a statement paying tribute to the dead men. Observers express the opinion that this belies stories of the new purge recently published in the foreign Press as the statement contains the names of men allegedly removed from command. General Kholzunoff and the other air officers, including Major Cherkassoff, who was a bombing expert, are believed to have died during the Outer Mongol lighting. They will be given an elaborate military funeral, at which Marshal Yoroshiloff will be chief mourner. Reports that General Shtern, Commander of the Ist Far Eastern Army, has been removed, are also dispelled by his signature of the statement paying tribute to the dead flyere.