FATAL THRUST BY REDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 1

FATAL THRUST BY REDS

Several Hundred Men Lost KILLED, WOUNDED, OR CAPTURED Determined Chinese Defence /Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 11 a.m. SHANGHAI, Monday. A DETERMINED drive yesterday by the Soviet forces, in an endeavour to surround the Manchuli garrison, resulted in the biggest clash in the present series of frontier skirmishes. The Soviet troops are reported to have suffered several hundred killed and wounded and 100 men taken prisoner.

The military conference which will be called by Marshal Chang-Hsueh-Liang shortly is expected to produce direct measures to counteract Soviet aggression, and fighting on a large scale can be expected. The present situation in Manchuria is clouded with uncertainty. The heavy firing of field-guns and machineguns is continually heard on the border, though the nature of the engagement has not been ascertained. A number of shells falling in the cities injured civilians. Mukden reports state that Soviet troops looted and burned two Chinese villages north of Kirin. Observers who recently returned from an inspection of the frontier express the belief that the Soviet will refrain from an official declaration of war, but will connive at belligerent activities in increasing proportions until the Manchurian authorities are frightened into submission and settle-

mem of the Chinese eastern railway dispute. EXACT TRUTH UNKNOWN PEACEMAKERS’ TASK IS MORE DIFFICULT {Australian and "N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10 a.m. WASHINGTON, Mon. The Chinese Minister at Washington, Mr. C. C. Wu, informed the State Department that Soviet Russia has violated Chinese territory. He said he did not wish to charge violation of the Kellogg Pact, but mobilisation of troops was necessary to protect the border. The exact truth of the situation is not known here, but reports seem to be becoming more embarrassing to those who are endeavouring to assure I a peaceful settlement quickly.