REDS THREATEN HARBIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 829, 25 November 1929, Page 1

REDS THREATEN HARBIN

Real War in Manchuria 12,000 CHINESE CASUALTIES Rapid Retreat from Hailar railed r. ..t.—Jtf Tcteimtph—Vopvrtiikt Reed 11 a m. SHANGHAI, Sunday. IT is announced that the Soviet’s threat to occupy Harbin, the big seaport of Manchuria, appears to be approaching materialisation within a month, following the reported capture of Hailar, after a serious combined cavalry, tank, and airplane attack. This resulted in a complete loss of morale by the Chinese forces, who are retreating rapidly. It is reported that they suffered 12,000 casualties.

Th» Reds also captured Muling, the 1 Chinese retreating iu disorder. .V Japanese correspondent at Har- ; bin reports that 1.000 Chinese civi-.| Hans and soldiers -who took refuge | m a coal mine in the Dalaiuor district' from Russian air raiders were burn d alive- , _ 1 The bombs dropped by the airmen caused a landslide at the mouth of Iha mine. The activity of the Rus--ian forces at Dalalnor has prevented ilie despatch of relief trains. following upon the incessant bombardment of Manchuli by the Russians, uitlcial continuation of the occupation nf that town, also of Chalanor, has been received here at Shanghai. From Chinese sources also if is learned that the Red troop#, assisted by Mongols, are now in possession of Manchuli. Eyewitnesses say the Russians attacked with tanks and airplanes. !

The attackers completely wrecked the major portion of the town, and many residents descended the coal mines to escape the bombardment. They- all perished -when the pumping machinery was wrecked by the aerial bombardment.. It is believed that more than 1,000 persons were killed in the fioooded Manchuli mines, in addition to those reported to have been buried alive in the Dalaiuor district. In a general Russian attack the Tasgan railway station was destroyed, necessitating the evacuation of the town. The Chinese main line forces are being withdrawn to the frontier defences from Hailar to Buehatu. 150 miles distant. They have abandoned all the territory west of the Khiagan Mountains. Twenty-four military trains are being held in readiness in the event of a further retreat.