MANCHURIAN CAMPAIGN.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19785, 25 November 1929, Page 11

MANCHURIAN CAMPAIGN.

RUSSIANS CAPTURE MANCHOUU. HEAVY CHINESE LOSSES. trNIIED F3ESS AsSO.TATIOS —BT ELECTRIC uftGß.vri!- CUPYBIGHT.) (.Revived November 24th, 5.3 p.m.) SHANGHAI. November 23. Following au incessant bombardment of Manc-iiouli. the Soviet's official confirmation of the occupation of the town ,)l-> or Dalai-ncr. has been received here. Chinese sources to-day state that l«ed troops, assisted by Mongols, are now iu possession. Eye-witnesses state that Russians attacked with tanks and aeroplanes, completely wrecking the major portion of the town. Many of the residents who descended to the coaJ-mines to escape the bombardment, perished, after tho pumping machinery bad been wrecked by the aerial bombardment. The general Soviet attack destroyed the Tasgau r::il«av station, forcing the evacuation of the town by the Chinese. The mam line forces are withdrawing from tho frontier defences from Hailar to Buehatu, one hundred and fifty miles distant, abandoning all territory west of the Khiagan mountains. Twenty-four military trains are being held in readiness in event of a further retreat. Jt is believed that more than a thousand persons perished following the flooding of mines at Mapchouji, in addition to those reported missing in the Dalai-nor district. [ Manihouli is an important railway centre in Manchuria near tho Siberian frontier. It is one of the terminals of the Chinese Eastern Railway.] ATTEMPTS AT MEDIATION. DENIED BY NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT, SHANGHAI, November 22. Japanese reports from Mukden announced the intention of the Manchurian authorities to negotiate a settlement with Moscow of the Chinese Eastern Railway dispute, independent of Nanking. Following continued pressure the Soviet military forces are confined in a precarious position by the Nanking forces, and an official statement from Honan declares that the Nationalist Government to-night denied attempts at mediation by Dr. Wellington Koo on behalf of Manchuria. Nevertheless a Japanese report from Harbin states that the Chinese commander has ordered the evacuation of Manchouli, following ft heavy boptbardment by Soviet artillery. The Japanese authorities are concerned about the safety of the nationals. The Chinese report that enormous damage to Manchouli has been inflicted by gunfire. The telegraph, railway stations, and tracks have been destroyed, but details are lacking of the casualties. BURIED ALIVE. REFUGEES IN A MINE. (Received November 24th, u.o p.m.) SHANGHAI, November 23, A Japanese correspondent at Harbin reports that a thousand Chinese civilians and soldiers who took refuge in a coal mine at Dalai-nor district from Soviet air raids were buried alive. Bombs caused a landslide at the mouth of the mine. The activity of the Soviet forces at Dalai-nor prevents the dispateh of relief trains.