RUFFLED EAST

Southland Times, Issue 20833, 23 July 1929, Page 7

RUFFLED EAST

TENSION UNABATED Only Spark Needed MINOR CLASH FEARED SUSPENSE IN CHINA PRESIDENT HOPEFUL (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) Shanghai, July 22. Though the President, Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, reiterates confidence that the Manchurian situation will be settled amicably, the country everywhere is in a state of suspense, especially in the north, where foreign observers fear that a minor clash of the opposing troops either at Manchouli or Pogranichnaya may constitute the spark which will set the border aflame. The week-end messages are notably scanty in their references to military movements on the border. This is believed to be indicative of quietness. According to Japanese messages from Manchouli, the Chinese are digging entrenchments along the northern edge of the town, resulting in the inhabitants taking flight and barring their homes against the military. The situation at Pogranichnaya, at the other end of the railway, is quiet, but it is reported that Chinese troops fired on Soviet aeroplanes, which retaliated by dropping bombs on Russian territory in a threatening manner as a warning.—Australian Press Association. JAPANESE CIVILIANS EVACUATION FROM MANCHOULI. HOSTILITIES BELIEVED IMMINENT. (Rec. 1 a.m.) Shanghai, July 22. Latest messages from Harbin report the arrival of large numbers of Japanese refugees from Manchouli, mostly women and children bringing a message from the Japanese Consul stating that owing to the increasingly critical situation and the possibility of the destruction of the railway bridge across the Hailar river he had ordered the withdrawal of Japanese civilians, though previously he had intended to accommodate them at the consulate. A telegraphic message from Manchouli states that acting on Chinese instructions from Mukden military officials on the western frontier are sending their families to Harbin by special train, adding to the anxiety of other inhabitants and causing rumours. Hostilities are expected momentarily.—Australian Press Association. REPORTS OF FIGHTING SOVIET’S ULTIMATUM. IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS. NOTHING OFFICIAL YET. Shanghai, July 21. Official confirmation of the capture of Manchouli and Pogranichnaya by the Soviet forces is lacking. It appears possible that the reports, which were given to Japanese correspondents by Chinese refugees from those towns, are based on continued gunfire and a demonstration by Soviet aeroplanes. General Chang Ching-hui, Governor of Keilung-kiang, in a telegram to Pekin, denies the outbreak of actual hostilities. On the other hand, Nanking to-night received two telegrams from Chiang Hsueh-liang, stating that the Soviet forces commenced the offensive yesterday in the vicinity of Pogranichnaya, coinciding with the reports of the attack on Manchouli. A Chinese report states that the Chinese troops remained on the defensive, though Japanese reports from the affected zone indicate an exchange of shots, with the subsequent flight of the Chinese forces. It is also reported that the Russian troops are in possession of a number of machines for the purpose of discharging poison gas. Mobilization at Vladivostok. It is reliably stated that mobilization at Vladivostock of all men between 17 and 35 is taking place. It is officially announced that all Japanese residents in Manchouli and Pogranichnaya have been withdrawn; also the massing of 3000 White Cossacks in the Manchouli district. The President, Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, has issued a circular stating: “It is urgent that the entire army rise against Red imperialism and uphold the sovereign right of China. The Soviet's ultimatum to China is impossible. It involves national honour. The country must unite in opposition to Retl Russia, even though many may perish in the struggle.” Nanking’s manifesto to the world powers explains that the Soviet Government utilized various departments of the Chinese Eastern Railway to promote sinister schemes for assassination, sedition, and destruction of China’s internal arrangements, therefore the seizure of the railway was an act of self-defence. The manifesto declares that responsibility for the present rupture rests with Russia. White Russians Against Soviet. More than 30,000 White Russians have applied to the Chinese military authorities at Harbin for enlistment in order to fight the Soviet. It is reported that feeling against the Soviet by the White Russians is very bitter. Young Chang, son of the recently assassinated Mukden War Lord, and present ruler of Manchuria, has heeded requests from the Nanking Government and left Peitaiho, where he has been spending the summer, and returned to Mukden following receipt of a telegram from Chiang Kai-shek that the situation has taken a turn for the worse.

It is announced by Chinese locally that the German Government has agreed to assume charge of Chinese interests in Russia and Russian interests in China. Soviet officials continue to leave China, among recent departures being the Soviet Consul, fourteen officials, women and children. Chinese merchants have promised the Government 100,000 bags of flour, 10,000,000 dollars, and a regular supply of rice in the event of necessity.—Australian Press Association. THE KELLOGG PACT CONTENDING PARTIES’ OBLIGATIONS. (Rec. 7 p.m.) Washington, July 21. The British Ambassador, Sir Esme Howard, on Sunday informed the Secretary of State, Mr Stimson, that the British Government would be happy to associate itself with the Secretary’s move to bring peace in the Sino-Soviet controversy. The British, French and Japanese ambassadors, representing three of the four powers who were parties to the Pan-Pacific Treaty of 1921, which binds them to confer when peace is threatened in the East, were

consulted on Thursday by Mr Stimson in connection with his calling to the attention of the Soviet and China their obligations under the Kellogg Treaty.—-Aus-tralian Press Association—United Service. FRANCE AND AMERICA EFFORT TO RELIEVE TENSION. CO-OPERATION OF BRITAIN. London, July 21. It is semi-officially announced that the British Government has informed the French and American Governments of its co-operation in attempting- to relax the Sino-Russian tension. Authoritative circles in London do not regard the situation pessimistically, explaining that the channel for Sino-Russian communications remains in Geneva. League circles regard America’s reminder to the Chinese and Russian Governments of their signature of the Kellogg Pact as an important precedent. It is stated in Paris that it was appropriate that the French and American Governments should communicate with China and Russia, seeing that the former inaugurated the pact. America has no official relations with the Soviet and utilizes France’s services in order to communicate with Moscow. The Soviet’s attitude towards the League prevents the League acting usefully.—Australian Press AssociationUnited Service.