MANCHURIA

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1931, Page 6

MANCHURIA

BIG BATTLE FEARED. TROOPS KEPT IN READINESS (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Tokio, Dec. 19. Chinchow reports are of increasing gravity, Japanese naval forces are in North China, being kept in readiness to land. Fighting on a. large scale is expected hourly,, the Japanese having ordered that area to be cleared of bandits, while the Chinese Main Army has withdrawn to Lanchow. JAPANESE ARMY. TROOPS REINFORCED, TOKIO, Dec. .17. Asserting that the troops at present in Manchuria are sufficient to maintain order and cope with bandits and military outlaws, who are intolerably infesting the country, the Army authorities decided to strongly reinforce the troops in Manchuria, relieving soldiers at present fatigued and exhausted by the rigours of the climate. CHIEF OF STAFF. TOKIO, Dec. 17. It is reliably reported that Prince Konin has acceded to a request to assume the position of Chief of the General Staff, thus strehgthenin the military position to carry ou determined policies.' JAPAN’S ATTITUDE AMERICAN* ANXIETY. WASHINGTON, Dec. 19. A new expression of concern over the Manchuria dispute, in friendly but positive terms, has been communicated to Japan by the United States Government Ambassador on the instructions of 'Secretary Stimson, ,again emphasised to the Japanese Foreign Office, the United States sol.citude that the obligations under the Nine * Power and the Kellog-Briand Treaties be respected. No formal communicaion was delivered to the Foreign Office, but the United States attitude was again expressed verbual]y by the Ambassador. JAPANESE AERIAL ATTACK. TOKIO, Dec. 20. It is reported that fighting commenced by a covering Japanese aerial attack, pending the arrival of troops. The opposing ten thousand Chinese regulars are moving to' the attack on Murkden.