OPEN WARFARE

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 16 August 1929, Page 5

OPEN WARFARE

ON MANCHURIAN BORDER.

NO FORMAL DECLARATION.

SEVERAL CLASHES REPORTED

(United Press Association—By El-vtric Telegraph Copyright.) —United Service).

SHANGHAI, Aug. 15. Though Mukden and 1 Tokio have definitely announced an outbreak of hostilities on the. Manchurian bonder, a later message from Japanese observers states gu.n-'tvring (continued throughout the day, but there was no encounter on a largo scale. Firing ceased at nightfall.

Earlier messages received at Mukden from the Governor of Kirin reposed a serious outbreak of (hostilities along the eastern front.

Three hundred Soviet marines and aeropuanety were landed from ifoiet gunboats on the Sungari River, and are occupying two small towns on the north bank.

Other Soviet, troops are occupying the city of Nordun, near Mandhuli, on the western front, following a bombardment and demonstrations. Several minor clashes between Chinese and Russion troops are reported oil the heights outside Mandhuli, throwing the city into panic. Casualties are uncertain, though both sides are reported to have suffered a clash lasting six hours.

REPORTS OF FIGHTING CONFIRMED.

CHINESE OFFER STERN DEFENCE. 3 THEIR PRESENT ATTITUDE MAINTAINED. Received 10.35 a.m. to-day. SHANGHAI, Aug. 16. ! Confirmation is arriving of the recommencement of open warfare between Chinese and soviet forces in the Sungari and Amur River districts, alitlhough neither sidle has formally declared war. The three Chinese delegates, to the Sino-Riissian conferences have been withdrawn, and' the negotiations have failed. Chinese generals entrusted with the frontier defence are reported to he offering a stem defence, even repulsing the Russians, after a pro- , longed engagement tat Chao Hsing , Ohuen. Chinese gunboats actively par- , ticipated. Evening newspapers are carrying the headlines: “War at Last.” ( Nanking officially confirms that several hours’ severe fighting at the junction of the Amur and l Sungari rivers took place, reinforced Chinese troops forcing Soviet forces to retreat across the river. Reports of fighting in other sections are attributed to White Russians’ attacks on Soviet troops. Notwithstanding several! urgent messages to Mukden reporting the Soviet invasion of the Chinese borders and the resulting grave situation, the National Government is maintaining a comparatively quiet attitude, President Ohiang Kaishek .stating that although the situation is tense, the Government ha.s fill I v resolved neither to change its present’ attitude nor permit China’s * military action to exceed the limit of defence. Meantime China definitely refuses to restore the .status of the Chinese Eastern Rally wav to the previous status.