TROUBLE IN EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1932, Page 5

TROUBLE IN EAST

JAP OFFENSIVE

TOWN OF HAILAR BOMBED

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright.)

SHANGHAI, December 5. The general offensive which was launched by combined Japanese and Manchukuo forces in the direction A (Hailar on November 30th, ha© been halted temporarily at the Hingan Mountains, where plans are being prepared for a final drive towards Hailar. The Japanese reports state that Hailar, which is a thriving railway market town on the western section of the Great Chinese Eastern railway, was bombed by Japanese aircraft, thereby compelling the Chinese General, Supingwens, hurried departure by camel train.

The town of Hailar, however, i© still .being ‘held by the anti-Manc'hukuo forces, who have taken two hundred and fifty Japanese prisoners. The immediate purpose of th e Japanese drive was to release the?e prisoners.

Th e Nipponese forces are campaigning under difficult conditions. The temperature is forty degree© below zero. The plains ate covered with snow, and the rivers are frozen,

FIGHT FOR OPIUM RIGHTS,

SHANGHAI, December 5

Although the Shantung civil war has been satisfactorily settled, the rival Generals are fighting bitterly for, possession of the opium rights of the Shantung Province, where, during the past year, arable land© have Wen converted into poppy fields, and enormous quantities of th© native drug are being manufactured.