IN THE FAR EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1933, Page 5

IN THE FAR EAST

SOVIET ARRESTS • lv A RAILWAY TROUBLE (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)! SHANGHAI, Sepl 26. Following on the arrest of four Soviet citizens’, who were technical servants o i the Chinese Eastern Railway, on Sunday last, September 24th, three others were taken into custody yesterday, including the statiomnaster at Pogranitchnaya. These arrests are in connection with the alleged wrongful evacuation of 79 locomotives, the property of the Chinese Eastern Railway, into' Siberia, wh le an accountant has been arrested for monetary irregularities. M. Slavitsky, at Harbin, Soviet Con-sul-General, has entered a strong verb -l protest, and he has received a reply that the Government of Manchukuo’s action has not been taken against these men as Soviet citizens, but as railway employees who are legally responsible for their wrongful, acts. The business of the Eastern Railway is now reported to be at a standstill. There are rumours that' these arrests are a preliminary to the Government of Manchukuo taking over the line. The are denied, though the denials are accepted only sceptically. - - JAPAN AND CHINA.

FIGHTING INEVITABLE. JAP ULTIMATUM REJECTED. SHANGHAI, Sep. 26. A Pekin message says that General Fang Chen Wu has rejected the Japanese ultimatum. Hostilities,' therefore, are inevitable to-morrow. Japanese planes already have dropped a bomb at Shiinyi, south of the Niu. Janahan, but the Japanese officials here declare that the Japanese foraos will not cross' the truce line in pursuit of the Chinese rabble. The Peldn authorities are confident that they will be able to safeguard the city. •” ■ K .

A JAPANESE WARNING. BOMBERS OVER PEKIN. PEKING, Sep. 20. (Received this'day a 8.45 a.m.) Four Japanese bombers roared over Peking to-day, dropping a further shorter of leaflets reinteratiu'g tlieir intention to drive Fang Chen Wu from the de'militarisfed zone, in accordance with the ultimatum expiring to-mor-row. • ; The Chinese press fears the bandits’ chief "'Old Rat.” will attempt to create I disturbances behind the lines in Peking and Tientsin.