MANCHURIAN CRISIS

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 9

MANCHURIAN CRISIS

JAPANESE ENGAGE CHINESE BANDITS EIGHTY KILLED Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. SHANGHAI, November 5. (Received November 6, at 8.30 a.m.) Although greatly outnumbered, a single company of Japanese infantry crushingly defeated 400 Chinese soldier bandits in a six-hour engagement in the vicinity of Tungtaokuo (north from Mukden) yesterday. The Japanese, who were entirely surrounded, extricated themselves with the greatest riifliculty. Eighty Chinese are reported killed and one Japanese slightly wounded. The Japanese claimed that the Chinese burned villages. A SERIOUS CLASH SHANGHAI, November 5. (Received November 6, at noon.) Fighting in the Nonni River district is developing, according to an official communique. It was started by fifty Japanese soldiers forcing a passage across the river and capturing three of the Chinese outposts. Two hundred Japanese subsequently opened fire on the Chinese, who replied. There were forty Japanese fatalities, and consequently the Japanese decided to occupy Yipuchi, on the northern side of the ■river. It is reported that the Chinese, 5,000 strong, possess twenty field guns and twelve trench mortars. The fighting is described as severe. The Chinese casualties are not known, but it is expected that they will greatly exceed those of the Japanese. TSITSIHAR COMPLICATION SHANGHAI, November 5. (Received November 6, at 8.30 a.m.) The Tsitsihar situation is obscured by conflicting reports. The Chinese commander telegraphed: “A further Japanese advance will precipitate a conflict, as the Chinese are determined to hold Tsitsihar.” Meanwhile the Japanese are carrying out repairs to the damaged sections of the railway. SOVIET’S VEILED THREAT LONDON, November 5. The Riga correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says that the Soviet newspapers continue to assert that the actions of the Japanese in Northern Manchuria increase ho danger of a conflict with the Soviet. ‘ Izvestia,’ the Government’s official organ, declares that the Soviet does not desire war, as it is unwilling to shoot away money required for industrial development, but it reminds Japan that he who sows of the wind may reap of the whirlwind.—London ‘ Times ’ Cable. RED ACTIVITY COMMUNIST RISING IN CHINA URGED SHANGHAI, November 5. (Received November C, at noon.) A warning by tlio Chinese Minister (Mr Szc) to the League yesterday of the possibility of Soviet Russia being drawn into the conflict in Manchuria found an immediate response by the issue by tlio Central Committee of the Soviet Socialist Republic of China of a manifesto declaring that the time had arrived for a Communist rising throughout China. The Communist leaders throughout the country have summoned a conference to bo called “ The First Soviet Congress of the National Communist Party of China,” which is expected to be the most important event that has ever occurred in China, in so far as tlio Chinese peasants and labourers are concerned. The manifesto states that the Soviet movement in China has progressed, despite the Government’s efforts at its suppression.