NOT AN IDLE THREAT!

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11011, 26 January 1926, Page 5

NOT AN IDLE THREAT!

RUSSIA TO CO TO WAR WITH CHINA. ARMY BEING MOBILISED United Press Assn. —Uopyriglit.) LONDON, Jan. 24. Paris reports the receipt of messages indicating that Russia is actively preparing for war against China, over the arrest by Marshal Changtsolin, the Manchurian War Lord, of M. Ivanoff, the Soviet manager of the Chinese Eastern railways, for refusing to allow military passengers to travel free. t Le Temps' Oslo correspondent says the Soviet threat is not an idle one and munition factories are working at full pressure and the army is being mobilised. An extraordinary meeting of Commissars at Moscow is planning a campaign. Railway material is being assembled for the despatch of troops to China. Rigid censorship is exercised over all telegrams from China and Japan.—A. and N.Z. Ca Aa PEKIN, Jan 24. The Foreign Office has telegraphed Changtsolin at Harbin, urging the immediate release of Ivanoff, stating that other outstanding questions must he settled immediately—Reuter. JAPAN’S MANCHURIAL RIGHTS. TOKIO, Jan. 24. • Replying to interpellations in the Lower House, Mr Shidehara stated that Japan intends to take steps to establish her commercial rights in Manchuria on a permanent basis if the Pekin conference raises the extraterritorial question, but in the meantime wishes to withhold publication of a concrete plan which is now being investigated.—Sun. KEY TO THE IMBROGLIO TROUBLE OVER CHINESE EASTERN RAILWAY CHANG AS CHINA’S SAVIOUR. (Received Jan. 25, 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 24. Mr Percival Landon, telegraphing to the Daily Telegraph from Pekin, expresses the opinion that the control of the Chinese eastern railway is the key to the imbroglio with Russia. It has been the property of the Soviet since the “White” Russians were defeated, but Chinese soldiers claimed the. right to use the railway and, when Ivanoff, the manager, demanded payment Chang-tso-lin arrested Ivanoff, thus definitely challenging the Soviet’s authority in China, where propaganda has been costing Russia thz-ee million sterling annually. When she failed to convert China to Bolshevism through Chinese leaders she began stirring up the Chinese masses to violence by a direct stimulation policy, which, however, proved a fiaheo. The Auss themb thejmanm a fiasco. The Russian attack is likely to establish Chang’s position as the saviour of China.—A. and N.Z. C.A.

BOMBSHELL FOR MOSCOW PLASH WITH JAPAN MAY ENSUE. IS SOVIET BLUFFING? (Received Jan. 25. 7.45 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 24. The Times’ Riga correspondent says: Advices from Moscow portray the Bolshevik leaders as dismayed at Manchurian developments. Apparently, the Soviet action is- intended merely to hamper mobility against the so-called national armies and Chang’s determined retaliation came as a bombshell to Moscow, where the view seems to prevail that open and effective intervention is impossible in the present circumstances, especially as it is believed it would involve a clash with Japan. It is held that Chang would not risk whait he is risking without the assurance of Japanese support. It is reported that the movement of considerable Red army forces towards China is regarded as mere bluff, as also is the veiled threat contained in Tchitcherin’s three day ultimatum. —Times.

SOVIET CAVALRY

IRISH HORSES FOR RED HUSSARS

LONDON, Jan. 24

The newspaper Weekly Despateli states that Michael Beary has been commissioned to buy troop horses in Ireland for the Soviet cavalry, to the value of £60,000, paying £4O to £6O each, payment to be made after the sale of the stocks of Russian flax and tow in London warehouses. —Sun.