ANOTHER CLASH

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 109, 1 February 1935, Page 11

ANOTHER CLASH

Japanese Troops and Mongols CASUALTIES RESULT Occupants of Fishing Village Expelled STATEMENT FROM TOKIO By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 31. 10.55 p.m.) Tokio, January 31. The War Office states?he Japanese Colonel Wada, with 200 Japanese troops and 200 Mancliukuo-Moiigol troops, advancing from Hailar, 'occupied at dawn .to-day the village of Harhar and expelled outer. Mongols who have been in occupation since January 8. Apparently there were some casualties on both sides. Unless there is further provocation this ends the affair as far as Japan and Manchukuo are concerned. The scene of the clash was Lake Boirnor, a most important fishing centre, which was evidently the immediate reason why a dozen outer Mongols have occupied it since January 8, driving out the Manchu-Mongol police. Since then they have been considerably reinforced, and refused to withdraw. '

The Jehol-Charliar border dispute resulted in a combined Japanese and Manchukuo force and-Chinese troops‘coming into conflict on January 22 and 23, when tch former launched a vigorous attack on the Chinese lines between Kuyuan anil Tuhsikou. Japanese aeroplanes dropped bombs, while the two Chinese critics were shelled by artillery. The Japanese offensive was’ launched against teh Chinese troops as the latter were withdrawing from the disputed zone. Tsuhihkov, one of the main passes in the Great Wall, was considerably damaged. The Chinese, though offering a stiff resistance, were spbjected to a merciless artillery bombardment. A message published yetserday stated that the Japanese Foreign Spokesman said that he had hopes that the Man-churia-Mongolia border affair would be settled without trouble if the outer Mongols withdrew, but it was reported that the outer Mongol troops were concenrating o n the frontier. Consequently tch Manchukuo army was preparing to meet the situation. NO BRITISH ACTION Attitude on Previous Incident (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, January 30. Questioned in the House of Commons regarding the recent attack by Japan in Manchukuo, Sir John Simon, Foreign Secretary, said that, though the facts were somewhat obscure, it appeared from accounts that reached him that the incident which took place on January 22 and on the following two days between the Japanese and Chinese troops on the borders of the provinces df Jehol and Cha liar was essentially local in character. According to the Chinese authorities, no further clashes had occurred since January 24. Neither of the parties Involved had addressed his Majesty’s Government on the matter, nor had any communication on the subject been received from any other Government. In the circumstances, special action by his Majesty’s Government did not appear to be called for.