GUNBOAT SUNK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 180, 1 July 1937, Page 9

GUNBOAT SUNK

FAR EAST INCIDENT. SOVIET AND JAPANESE. PROTEST BY MANCHUKUO. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received July 1, 10.15 a.m. LONDON, Juno 30. It is reported that a Soviet gunboat was slink by Japanese Maiichukuati gunfire on the Amur River with a heavy loss of life. An official statement says that three Soviet gunboats opened lire on the Japanese iVlunchuKuan forces, which were outiged to retaliate, sinking one and damaging another and lo.cmg a third io j.ianchukuo has protested to the Soviet authorities. BOTH PARTIES CAUTIOUS. NO UNEXPECTED ACTION. Received July 1, 10.15 a.m. iUurfCUW, June 30. It is uncertain' whether the gunboat incident occurred before tne agreement to withdraw their forces was reached. A communique states that noth parties have undertaken to ensure that the situation will not be complicated by unexpected actions. The Japanese Ambassador stated that while the refusal of the Russians to w »idraw did not mean war he was sure the Soviet would comply. Rumours that 10 Russian vessels are converging on Senuulu Island arc nut continued. THE AMUR ISLETS. OCCUPATION BY RUSSIA. TOK 10, June 29. Manchukuo has made representations .against the occupation of the Amur islets. It is believed that the Ambassador has demanded the immediate .withdrawal of a Russian force. The Japanese Press flints that the protest ntay be the means of testing whether the Soviet’s confidence in her Far Eastern army remains unimpaired. TROOPS WITHDRAW. Received July 1, 8.5 a.m. TOKIO, June 30. The Soviet has agreed to withdraw troops from the Amur River, and Japan is taking similar steps. The Amur or Sakhalin river flows 3000 miles south-eastward and northeastward to the Sea of Okhotsk, oppoi site Saghalien. The river is the boun--1 dary between Siberia and Manchuria, for‘a long distance.