NANKING MANIFESTO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 22 July 1929, Page 5

NANKING MANIFESTO

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST RUSSIA (Received 22nd July, 1-0 p.m.) SHANGHAI, 21st July. Official confirmation of the capture of Manchuli and Pogganichnaya hv the Soviet forces is lacking. It appears possible that the reports, which were given to Japanese correspondents by Chinese refugees from those towns, 1 arc based on continued gunfire demonstrations and Soviet aeroplanes. General Chang Cliing-hui, Governor of Heilungkiang, in, telegrams to Pekin, denies the outbreak of actual hostilities. On the other hand Nanking to-night received two telegrams from Chang Hsueh-liang stating that Soviet forces commenced an offensive yesterday in the vicinity of Pogganichnaya. Coinciding with reports of an attack on Manchuli, a Chinese report states i that Chinese troops remained on the defensive, (hough Japanese reports from tlie affected zone indicate an exchange of shots, with the subsequent flight of the Chinese forces. It is also reported that Russian troops are in possession of a number of machines for the purpose of discharging poison gas. It is reliably stated that- mobilisation at Vladivostock of all men between 17 and 35 is taking place.” It is officially announced that all Japanese residents in Manchuli and Pogganichnaya have been withdrawn, also tho massing of 3000 White Cossacks in the Manchuli district. Cliiang Kai-shek has issued a circular stating that the entire army should rise against “Red imperialism’ and uphold the sovereign right of China. “The Soviet’s ultimatum to China is impossible. It involves national honour. The country must unite in opposition to Red Russia, even though many may perish in tiie struggle.” Nanking’s manifesto to the world powers explains that the Soviet Government utilised various departments of tlie Chinese eastern railway to promote sinister schemes for assassination, sedition, and the destruction of China’s internal arrangements, therefore the seizure of the railway was an act of self-defence. 'lhe manifesto declares that responsibility for the present rupture rests with Russia.