WAR CLOUD IN EAST

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 15, 17 July 1929, Page 9

WAR CLOUD IN EAST

EUSSIAN ULTIMATUM

TENOR OF CHINA'S REPLY

United Press Association—By Electric T*l*>

trrapli—Copyright. Australian I'resj. \ssnol«tlon

(Eeceived 17th July, 11 a.m.)

SHANGHAI, 16th July.

Manchurian dispatches indicate considerable activity on the part of the Chinese, who are reported to be rushing well-equipped troops to strategic point* on the frontier. Official advices report that Mukden has been ordered by Nanking to mobilise a hundred thousand troops.

There is also a considerable movement of Soviet troops on the Siberian Bailway. It is also reported that four Eussian divisions, equipped with modern weapons, with poison gas units and an aviation corps, are stationed at Vladivostock and Blagovestchensk. Fifty to sixty thousand Chinese troopt are said to be encamped on the SinoEussian border, in addition to two hundred thousand now mobilising in North, crn Manchuria.

The Chinese authorities are continu* ing to deport Soviet railway officials. Business is at a standstill at Harbin, Nanking is sending a pacific reply to Eussia, expressing a willingness to negotiate affairs. Providing that the agreement of 1924 is faithfully carried out, they are ready to release the Eussiau prisoners, providing that Eussia releases Chinese prisoners, numbering & thousand. China will aver that tha Smo-Eussian friendship is still firm, so long as Eussia abstains from Communist propaganda.

Meanwhile the latest advices stats that both sides are moving troops to the frontier. It is alleged that the fcoviet forces have already entered western Manchuria. ■