RED TROOPS REPULSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 743, 16 August 1929, Page 1

RED TROOPS REPULSED

Battles on Chinese Border GRAVE SITUATION IN EAST But War Not Yet Declared ( United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 9.50 a.m. SHANGHAI, Thursday. CONFIRMATION is arriving of the recommencement of open warfare between the Chinese and Soviet forces in the Sungari and Amur River districts, although neither side has formally declared war. The three Chinese delegates to the Sino-Russian conference have been withdrawn, and the negotiations have failed.

The Chinese generals entrusted with the frontier defence are reported to be offering a stern resistance and even repulsing the Russians a prolonged engagement. The casualties are uncertain. At Chao-Hsing-Chuen Chinese gunboats actively participated. The evening newspapers are carrying headlines, “War at Last.” Nanking officially confirms that several hours’ severe fighting occurred at the junction of the Amur and Sungari Rivers. The reinforced Chinese troops forced the Soviet forces to retreat across the river. Reports of fighting in other sections are attributed to White Russian attacks on the Soviet forces. Notwithstanding several urgent messages to Mukden, reporting a Soviet invasion of the Chinese border, and a resultant grave situation, the Nationalist Government is maintaining a comparatively quiet attitude. President Chiang-Kai-Shek states that although, the situation is tense,

tlie Government is fully resolved neither to change Its present attitude, nor permit China’s military action to exceed the limit of defence. In the meantime, China definitely refuses to restore the status of the Chinese Eastern Railway to the previous status. REDS OCCUPY TOWNS Earlier messages received at Mukden from the Governor of Kirin, Manchuria, reported a serious outbreak of hostilities along the eastern front. Three hundred Russian marines, with airplanes, were landed from Russian gunboats on the Sungari River. They occupied two small towns on the north bank. Other Russian troops have occupied the city of Nordun, near Manchuli, on the western front after a bombardment and demonstrations. Several minor clashes between Chinese and Russian troops are reported to have occurred on the heights outside Manchuli. They have thrown the people into a panic.