MANCHURIA

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1931, Page 6

MANCHURIA

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

CIVILIANS LEAVING THEIR HOME'S

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

(Received this day at 11.15 a.m.)

•SHANGHAI, November 20.

An exchange of Notes has token place between the Chinese and Japanese Governments in connection with the responsibility for the Tsitsihar battle.

The former insists 1 that' the Japanese military authorities provoked the out-, break, and insisting upon General Ma Chusan’s compliance with a series of impossible demands. The Note expresses surprise at the demands, which included Ala; 'Chusan’s withdrawal, supported ;by the Japanese Government. Th® Japanese reply alleges duplicity against Ma Chusan, declaring that he repeatedly broke his pledges with regard to troop movement, and finally lost';his head at the flood of congratulatory telegrams from all parts of China urging resistance against Japan, and that b e precipitated hostilities in a. monientyof reckless bravado.

The .Nanking Government received a telegram from Marshal Charig'Hsue Liang former Manchurian ruler .now in Peiping, notifying that he had urgently ordered every section of tile Manchurian forces to rally to Ala Chusan’s support. Chinese soldiers, captured by the Japanese, declare that they were told by Genera} Mia,- Chusan, that their opponents were 'Chinese rebels, Uutd,the Japanese pierced the Chinese lines, they J were unaware that the opposing, forces, were Japanese. Thousands of Chinese civilians along the .Chinese eastern railway are leaving their homes and belongings, and fleeing helter skelter, despite .the bitterness of the weather, the temperature being twenty degrees below zero. The League’s failure 'to reach a solution over Alanchuria, prompted numerous condemnatory circulars by public organisations in Shanghai and elsewhere. To-night, an influential citizens’ federation telegraphed the League, threatening to turn an informal war into a formal one, unless immediate steps were taken to check the so-called Japanese aggressions. . 'i ' CHINESE PROTESTS. LIST OF JAPS ACTIVITIES. ; SHANGHAI, November 19. General Chiang Kai Shek is proceeding immediately to Manchuria. Chiang addressed the fourth Nation, | al Kuomintang Congress for two hours | and emphasised Kuomintang’s obliga-. tion to lead the . masses to resist for-1 cign aggressions. ; Nanking Government has forwarded the League a list enumerating “Japan’s provocative activities in China.” Replying to Japan’s publication of alleged Chinese violation of the SinoJapanese treaties a Chinese note estimates there are twenty-three thousand troops in Manchuria, greatly exceeding, the treaty limitations. The successful completion of Japan’s swift advance across the Chinese eastern railway is announced in wireless despatches received at Peking from Tsitsilxar. The message says Machusan retreated from the city which the Japanese are now entering, following a bombardment and fighting continuing with Afachusan directing the forces from Taierha on the Tsitsi-har-Koshan railway.

JAPANESE REPORT.

TOKYO, November 19

The AVar Alinister has. issued a statment declaring a counter attack, was necessary in consequence of .Chinese, relying on immensely superior statement declaring a counter attack including heavy gunfire. There was danger of the Chinese, estimated at twenty-four thousand, surrounding and annihilating the Japanese. The aggressive troops have now been dispersed and the Japanese will withdraw as soon as possible.