FIGHTING ON BORDERS

Evening Star, Issue 20255, 16 August 1929, Page 8

FIGHTING ON BORDERS

THE MANCHURIAN DISPUTE REPORTS CONFIRMED CHINA ON THE DEFENSIVE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SHANGHAI, August 15. (Received August 16. at 10.50 a.m.) Confirmation is arriving of the recommencement of open warf are between the Chinese and Soviet forces in the Sungari and Amur River districts. Although neither side has formally declared war, ‘ the three Chinese delegates to the Sino-Russian conferences have been withdrawn, negotiations having failed. The Chinese generals entrusted with the frontier defence are reported to be offering a stern defence. They repulsed the Russians after a prolonged engagement at Chaohsingchuen. Chinese gunboats actively participated. The evening newspapers are carrying the headline “ War at Last.” Nanking officially confirms the reports that there were several hours’ severe fighting at the- junction of the Amur and Snngari Rivers, the reinforced Chinese troops forcing the Soviet forces to retreat across the river. The reports of fighting in the other sections are attributed to White Russian attacks, on the Soviet troops. Notwithstanding several urgent messages to Mukden reporting Soviet invasion of the Chinese borders and a resultant grave situation, the National Government is maintaining a comparatively quiet attitude. President Chiang Kai-shek states that, although the situation, is tense, his Government is fully resolved neither to change its present attitude nor to permit China's military action to exceed the limits of defence. Meantime China definitely refuses to restore the status of the Chinese Eastern Railway to the previous status.— Australian Press Association.