TRAINS WRECKED

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1934, Page 5

TRAINS WRECKED

OUTRAGES IN MANCHUKUO TWO AMERICANS KIDNAPPED THIRD MAKES HIS ESCAPE STORY OF SAVAGE ATTACK TENSION WITH THE SOVIET By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 6.30 p.m. Shanghai, Sept. 1. Two American passengers and six Japanese were kidnapped after the wrecking of a train 26 miles south of Harbin yesterday. It was one of the worst train wrecks in the history of Manchukuo. Bandits derailed the passenger train and opened fire as the passengers escaped. It was reported that Japanese suffered greatly. Thirteen were killed and eight injured. A Japanese armoured car and troops have been dispatched to the scene and are now attempting to overtake the bandits. The Americans are Messrs. Johanson and Lury, both representatives of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Corporation. Their companion, Mr. James Russell, who escaped, stated that when he realised that bandits were attacking the train he locked his compartment and threw himself to the floor, while a hail of bullets was pouring along the entire coach. “The bandits attempted to smash my compartment with their rifle butts but did not succeed, while I lay shivering and fearing death at any moment,” said Mr. Russell. “The railway guards apparently attempted to hold off the attackers, but were vastly outnumbered.” Several small red flags, also brassards inscribed “Friends of the Soviet,” were found on the scene, while entrenchments along the line indicated careful preparations for the outrage. The wrecking has added additional fuel to the already highly inflammable and strained situation between the Soviet andthe Japanese regarding the sale and future control of the Chinese Eastern Railway. Another bandit outrage on the Chinese Eastern Railway was reported to-day, when a train was derailed by the usual methods. Details are lacking, but it is stated a Russian engineer and a Chinese fireman were killed.