GUNS SILENCED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23111, 9 August 1938, Page 9

GUNS SILENCED

CLAIM BY RUSSIANS JAPANESE DRIVEN OUT LAKE KHASAN AREA KOREAN BORDER FIGHTING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 8, 31.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 8 A report from Vladivostok states that the Russians have driven out the remnants of the Japanese troops from Soviet territory in the Lake Khasan area, says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. The Russians are said to have firmly occupied all frontier posts and silenced the Japanese guns after a four-hour artillery duel without entering Manchukuo territory. Iho Japanese Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. T. Kawai, reports to-day that tho Japanese, after the most severe hand-to-hand fighting, repulsed at 6.30 a.m. Soviet troops who had stormed to within 100 yards of the summit of Chang-kufeng hill. The casualties on both sides were heavy. Mr. Kawai officially characterised the Russian claim to the recapture of Chang-kufeng as ridiculous. Soviet aeroplanes are said to bo continuously bombing Keiko and other points in Korea. More than 100 Russian aeroplanes participated in 10 flights over the Korea-Manchukuo border, reconnoitring and combing out Japanese positions, says a message from Tokio. Two Korean civilians were killed in the village of Meiko. The Russians vainly counter-attacked the Japanese positions in the afternoon. The spokesman of the Japanese War Office said: "It is absurd and outrageous that the Soviet should continue attacks while diplomatic conversations are proceeding at Moscow. We must be patient in order to preserve peace, but our endurance is limited."

Russian gunfire severely damaged Koji and dislocated railway traffic.