BATTLE IN MANCHURIA

Grey River Argus, 10 November 1931, Page 5

BATTLE IN MANCHURIA

RENEWAL LIKELY Japan Ignores League (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn). SHANGHAI, November 8. An unconfirmed, report from Pekin states that General Hanjo, Field Commander of the Japanese forces in Manchuria, ordered eleven thousand additional men to the Taonin district, the scene of the recent fighting. He ailso asked .Tokiol 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 Nouni, a, Russian officer, wearing a Chinese uniform). Latest Japanese casualties at Nonni are six killed and 144 woundedThree aeroplanes were damaged. The Chinese had more than two hundred killed. I 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, a:%d the pivil 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. LONDON, November 8. The “Times’s’ - Pekin correspondent states; An unsuccessful attempt was made against the Manehu exEmperor, Hsuan Tung, at his residence in the Japanese concession at Tsientqin. 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 ho prefers to* live peacefully as a private citizen. The Chinese who sent the fruit, have disappeared. 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 *'fo 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 16th, is expected fo give a sjolemn declaration to the world that Japan ha s violated the League Covenant and the Kellogg Pact. 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, eotnsiders 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 an isolated eveut Instead of the last of a series extending over a quarter of a century, and forming ftel background from whjeh the recent Japanese action cannot bo divorced. It is all the more regrettable, says the “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 inter est, she was, and is, called upon to take the League into her confidence. It is in any ease an interesting a-nd difficult point whether sovereignty can be said to'have been infringed when that sovereignty 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 cotasiderations that have driven the Japanese authorities to adopt drastic and rather hasty methods of redress. The League still remains open as the Court of Appeal for the two disputant countries with each of whom Britain hasi 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 i n 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.

Fighting at Tientsin JAPANESE ULTIMATUM. SHANGHAI, November 9. Street fighting broke out early this morning in the vicinity of the Japanese Concession at Tientsin. It believed that the Chinese troops there are in rebellion, and are attempting a coup d’etat. The Japanese are reported to have sent an ultimatum to the Chinese military to clear the Japanese concession by six o ’clock, but the ultimatum was ignored. When the ultimatum was ignored the Japanese, it is said, began adopting

forcible means, and the fighting is believed to be of a serious nature. The Tientsin population are panicstricken. League’s Warning TO JAPAN. (Received November 9 at 11.45 p.m.) PARIS. November 9. “Le Journal” states that' M. Briand as President of the League of Nations’ Council, told M. Yoshizawa (Japanese I representative) that a most delicate I situation would be created if the next I meeting of the League Council were to be confronted by the uncompromising attitude of Japvn. H e said the fact was that the fighting already had occurred three hundred miles from the South Manchurian Railway.

English Tory Press SOOLING ON JAPAN. IMPERIALISM UNMASKED. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn). (Received November 9 at 11.57 p.m.) LONDON. November 9. The newspapers are giving prominence to the growing chaos in China, including the rioting at Tientsin, and the formation of an Independent Government in Manchuria, with Japanese support. The “Morning Post” applauds what it terms Japan’s stand against anarchy and brigandage, and says: “Britons strongly object to being dragged into the struggles in Manchuria, which country will become as vital to Japan as India and Egypt are, to Britain. Japan has invested vast sums in Manchuria, which is one of the chief sources of her raw material and food, while the Chinese Republic is unable to protect foreigners. The United States took the same sort of action in Mexico, without any complaint.”

The “Daily Mail” says: There must be no meddling in Manchuria by wellmeaning busy bodies. The Council of the League of Nations, unluckily, has taken sides in the quarrel, and has decided on a course as against Japan. The rights of the case are with Japan. The “Daily Express” points out that the danger of a feud between the yellow races is being diverted into a clash between East and West. Britain does not want to get mixed up in a Far Eastern war. Liberal Paper’s Views JAPAN MASKING HER WAR. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn}. (Received November 9 at 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, November 9. The “News Chronicle” says: Japan is making war, while she is denying that she is doing so. If she has grievances, they can be redressed; but she is using the instruments which she expressly bound herself not to use, and is forcing the League of Nations Council either to act vigorously or to confess its impotence. If the League of Nations cannot deal effectively with, this.barefaced defiance of its first prinI ciples, many fear that it cannot deal effectively with anything.