MILITARY FRICTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 209, 3 August 1934, Page 7

MILITARY FRICTION.

BRITISH AND JAPANESE.

TRAINING OF TROOPS

SHANGHAI, Aug. 2. The friction between British and Japanese military officials in North China regarding the manoeuvres of British troops at Shanhaikwan, outside the Great Wall, remains unsettled, the British commander declining to comply with the Japanese request to limit the operations to inside the wall, and claiming the right to conduct training operations under an agreement with the Chinese Government. Since the British Government has not recognised Manchukuo, it is claimed that the territory outside the wall is still part of China. iT similar request was addressed to the Freeh commander, who refused to comply. Japan is now making official representations to the British Minister (Hon. A. M. G. Cadogan). In the meantime Japanese troops are conducting extensive sham warfare and large scale manoeuvres between Chenteh and Cliaoyang, south of Ivupeikow Pass

The Japanese are also concerned over Soviet troops. A Nofe couched in strong terms has been addressed to the Soviet Consul at Harbin, demanding the withdrawal of Soviet troops stationed in Tungtaishen, over which Manchukuo claims jurisdiction.

POISON GAS EFFECTS.

IN MANCHUKUO VILLAGE,

TOKIO, Aug. 2. It has been semi-officially disclosed that nearly half the inhabitants of the village of Hume, on the River Amur, Manchukuo, 160 miles northwest of Aigun. have been stricken with a strange lung malady which has been found to have been caused by the fumes of a mysterious gas from across the river where Soviet forces are stationed and who are presumably unaware of the escape of gas. Poison gas manoeuvres are regarded here as revealing intensive frontier preparations by the Soviet forces.