FIGHTING IN MANCHURIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1931, Page 5

FIGHTING IN MANCHURIA

BOTH SIDES LOSE HEAVILY JAP. AIRMEN DECIDE ISSUE [BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] SHANGHAI, November 7. The arrival of Japanese reinforcements decided the Nonni River battle, according to Mukden despatches today. A mixed brigade commanded by Major General Haseby, employing bombing planes, turned the tide in favour of the Japanese, although the latter admit sustaining heavy casualties. The Japanese headquarters declare that the Chinese are in Tull retreat.

General Machusan’s Chinese forces despite their superiority of numbers, and although equipped with modern weapons of warfare, were unable to withstand the Japanese aerial attacks and they retreated in comparative disorder, leaving the Japanese in full possession of the river area, and enabling the railway bridge repair gang to resume. The Japanese admit losing one hundred and thirty men. Estimates of the Chinese casualties have not been received, but it is believed they were considerably the heavier, the Japanese bombers inflicting the heaviest casualties. As the result of the Nonni River battle, the Japanese are reported to be transferring the Chajichung garrison forces to Nonni. JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS (Rec. November 9, 9 a.m.) SHANGHAI, November 8. An unconfirmed report from Pekin states that General Honjo, Field Commander of the Japanese forces in Manchuria ordered eleven thousand additional men to the Taonin district, the scene of' the recent fighting. He also asked Tokio to dispatch three divisions immediately from Japan. It is rumoured that the defeated Chinese troops In the Nonni River district, are preparing a counter attack. -

It is reported that the Japanese discovered among the Chinese dead at Nonni, a Russian officer wearing a Chinese uniform. Latest Japanese casualties at Nonni are six killed and 144 wounded. Three aeroplanes were damaged. The Chinese had more than two hundred killed. BOMB FOR EX-EMPEROR [TIMES CABLES.] LONDON, November 8. The “Times’s” Pekin correspondent states: An unsuccessful attempt was made against the Manchu ex-Emperor, Hsuan Tung, at his residence in the Japanese concession at Tsientsin. A bomb handed to him in a basket of fruit, did not explode. The outrage is believed to be associated with the rumours that the Japanese offered to restore Hsuan Tung as Emperor of Manchuria, though he prefers to live peacefully as a private citizen. The Chinese who sent the fruit, have disappeared. RIOT AT TIENTSIN. SHANGHAI, November 8. The Native city of Tientsin was thrown into complete confusion last, night, when a mob of several hundred armed Chinese , allegedly under Japanese instigation, attacked the Chinese police stations, and the Civil Governor’s headquarters at one o’clock in the morning. Fighting is continuing, machine guns being used. Foreign troops are standing by in the concessions. The casualties, thus far are unknown.

LEAGUE’S PEACE EFFORTS. LONDON, November 7. A Geneva message states it is believed that the Council of the League of Nations will be now forced to take unmistakable action in oTder to strengthen the hands of the Moderates in the Japanese Government at Tokio. It is suggested that the Council might threaten that the other members of the Council will withdraw their diplomats from Tojcio. M. Briand, on behalf of the League of Nations' Council, has telegraphed to China and Japan, reminding them of their previous assurance, and ap pealing that instructions should be issued to the commanders in Manchuria to remove all possibility of sanguinary engagement. JAPAN’S REFUSAL. (Received November 9, 1 p.m) PARIS, November 8. It is understood that Japan has refused to comply with the League Council’s Note, M. Yoshizawa reiterating his Government’s willingness to withdraw troops from Manchuria, but the time is not ripe, because China is unable to guarantee the order. M. Briand is reported to have told the Ambassador that the Japanese continued to advance despite his Geneva promise. The League Council meeting at Paris on November 16, is expected to give a solemn declaration to the world that Japan has violated the League Covenant and the Kellogg Pact.

HARD PROBLEM FOR POWERS. A BRITISH PRESS COMMENT. RUGBY, November 8. The serious developments in the Manchurian situation, where during the last few days, fighting has occurred between Japanese and Chinese detachments, are being closely and anxiously watched by Britain. “The Times” commenting on the situation, considers it unfortunate that a dispute is thrust on the League, in circumstances which made it difficult to see the whole dispute in perspective, which made the Japanese seizure of Mukden appear ap isolated event instead of the last-of a series extending ovei- a quarter of a century, and forming the background from which the recent Japanese action cannot be divorced.

It is all the more regrettable, says “Times” that the Japanese Government’s hands were forced by the military leaders in Manchuria, because in fact, Japan has a very good case, and impartial enquiry might have established that justice was on her side. Alike by honour and interest, she was, and is, called upon 'to take the League into her confidence. It is in any case, an interesting and difficult point whether sovereignty can be said to have been infringed when that sov-

ereigntv was not effective. On the other hand, the Chinese have latterly made great efforts to restore order in Manchuria, and at Washington, the assembled Powers including Japan, all agreed that Manchuria formed an integral part of the Chinese Empire. The very fact that the Chinese have lately been asserting themselves in Manchuria, have copied the Japanese methods, and proved here and there dangerous competitors, has no doubt been one of the considerations that have driven the Japanese authorities to adopt drastic and rather hasty me- . thods of redress. The‘ League still remains open as the-Court of Appeal for the two disputant countries with each of whom Britain has long been, and wished always to remain, on terms of friendship, if the League did not exist, it would be very difficult to avoid isolated diplomatic demarches by the separate countries, having interests in China, but in the circumstances, the other countries are involved simply in an arbitral and conciliatory capacity, in which they are called upon not to defend an individual thesis, but to establish a common reign of Justice, and with these efforts, the United States has cordially associated itself..