WARLIKE PREPARATIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 748, 22 August 1929, Page 9

WARLIKE PREPARATIONS

RED ARMOURED TRAINS APPEAR CHINESE KILLED IN CLASH (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9.12 a.m. SHANGHAI, Wed. In consequence of the increasingly grave situation in Manchuria, martial law has been declared along the entire Chinese Eastern Railway, following a series of acts of sabotage—derailment of a passenger train, and bridge destruction —attributed to Communists. A message from the headquarters of General Chang Tso-Hsiang states that the artillery brigades of the Kirin forces are proceeding to the front to engage the Soviet raiding parties on the border. Major engagements have not been reported since August 16, though there are extensive troop movements. Both sides are obviously preparing for definite warlike operations. Manchuli correspondents report that, two Soviet armoured trains loaded with infantry appeared SOO metres west of Manchuli and deployed under cover of the trains. They started a bombardment, attacking the Chinese entrenchments, the Chinese replying with trench mortars, and the Reds eventually retired to the trains. Thirty Chinese were killed. AGGRESSION CHARGE SOVIET ISSUES WARNING TO CHINA HINT OF CONSEQUENCES Times Cable LONDON, Wednesday. The Riga correspondent of “The Times” says the Soviet Government has handed to the German Ambassador a Note for transmission to the Governments of Nanking and Mukden. This communication declares that the conflicts on the Russo-Manchurian frontier were all begun by Chinese troops and White Russian Guards under Chinese protection. The Soviet admits that its troops had crossed the frontier into Manchuria, but says they only did so in consequence of Chinese aggressiveness. The Note further asserts that since July 18 there have been eight raids into Russian territory by Chinese troops, the last one on August IS, in which the Russians lost six killed and six wounded. fi’he Soviet concludes its Note with a warning that unless the Chinese authorities disarm the White Russian detachments and prevent all Chinese raids on Russian territory, the Soviet Government will hold the Governments of Nanking and Mukden responsible for the consequences.