Japs Seriously Concerned

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 7

Japs Seriously Concerned

Gash (m Soviet Border KU&HING TROOPS TO MANCHUKUi United Press Association.—By Electrlo Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Monday, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, August 1. Moscow’s version of the SovietJap clash yesterday is that the lighting began when Japanese artillery opened fire without warning ana. troops attacked the soviet guards. It is asserted that the Japanese occupied Soviet territory “to a depth of two and a-half miles ’ ’ in the hills to the west of Lake Hassan. The Soviet War Commissar declares he has no knowledge of the Manchukuoau Soviet-Jap clash, yet the official news agency announces that the Japanese suffered heavy losses in men and material. A Tokio message says the Foreign Office spokesman declares the Russian bombardment of Rojo and Sajan in Korea was premeditated, proof of which was the accuracy of the Russian fire, which was kept up till last night. The Japanese withheld the attack till the Russians embarked on aggression. If the attack is repeated the Russians can expect more severe treatment.

Prince Kanin, chief of the general staff, has hurriedly gone to Tokio from a holiday. The seriousness of the view taken of the incident is indicated by the fact that the newspapers have been forbidden to publish the facts and comments, apart from communications.

It is claimed that 11 Soviet tanks and two large guns were captured, A later Tokio War Office message states that the Soviet troops lost SO additional killed last night in counter-attacks.

Korean headquarters report that the Soviet troops have withdrawn from Changkufeng and Shaotsaoping, with the exception of a few garrison companies, and all is now quiet. An earlier message from Shanghai stated that following tactics which previously had proved so effective in China, a number of Communists of the Eignth Route Army entered Manchukuo, organised tho villagers against the Japanese, and cut the Pekin-Jehol railway. The Japanese are denuding North China of troops and are also dispatching forces from Tsingtao to Manchukuo instead of to Hankow, in the hope of rectifying the position, which is strained by the situation on the Russian border, where the trouble is becoming daily more tense.