THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 2, 1988.
Page
CHANCES OF PEACE OR WAR
WAR FIFTY-FIFTY Japanese Spokesman On Border Clash Outlook
Japan Black Out: RUMOURS OF
Apprehensive Of Air Raid
.
Tokyo, To-day.
RUSSIAN RAID ON HARBIN
Tokyo, To-day
The War Office yesterday after-
Latest Japanese reports from the frontier region
near Changkufeng, which were received late noon characterised the rumours that there had been a Soviet air. last night declare that the Soviet troops, re- pulsed beyond the frontier, retired to moun-raid on Harbin, as groundless. tain positions east of Lake Changhi directly behind the Soviet frontier.
MOSCOW VERSION CLAIMS SUCCESS IN COUNTER-ATTACK
Moscow, To-day.
A more extended account of the fighting at Changkufeng
a statement to the effect that it tained in a communi Was
con-
The Foreign Office also issued
stating had not heard anything of the that the Japanese, supported by Before retiring definitely, the Soviet troops deli-reported raid.
artillery, attacked a Soviet border vered two counter-attacks which were unsuc- Lights burned late last night in
the Ministries of War and For- patrol and penetrated four kilo- cessful.
eign Affairs as officials awaited metres into Soviet territory, using Changkufeng Hill which was recaptured by Japan-further reports from Hsinking artillery and infantry.
✓ :
ese troops had been converted into strongly on the situation resultant and Keijo while gravely confer-
Observers told Reuters that
territory.
A few hours later, Soviet re- fortified infantry and artillery positions by the upon the news of the Soviet air inforcements arrived and repuls- Soviet Russians and the large number of dead raids which have electrified ed the Japanese from the Soviet lost by the Soviet troops indicates that the Tokyo
QUESTION OF REPRISALS
The Japanese casualties are positions were held by a force of considerable
they believed a conflict to be estimated at 400 and they lost 5 strength.
frontier, the Japanese authori-avoidable if Japan refrained field-guns, 15 machine-guns and
Soviet 157 rifles. The Soviet troops now apparent-ties have ordered increased air from reprisals and the ly preparing new position east of defence and precautionary mea-from further action but they ex- lake Changhai.
sures in the frontier region. pressed the opinion that Japan, in A complete blackout in the in-view of its commitments in China, Official quarters are following de-dustrial district of Fukuoka was would do its utmost to achieve a velopments with close attention but ordered on Monday night. This diplomatic settlement. with complete calm.
district is located on the island of They drew attention, however, Kiushu, south of Korea, and to the danger of military-com- about 900 kilometres from the manders taking steps which scene of the recent conflict be would exclude the possibility of tween Soviet and Manchurian appeasement. troops. Trans-Ocean.
KOREA AIR RAIDS
While the military authorities declined to make any statement on the situation, a spokesman of the Japanese Foreign Office declared that the Japanese had no reason-to be afraid of a conflict with the Bo- viet Union.
LIMITS TO PATIENCE.
Tokyo, To-day. “The chances are 50-50," said the It is still hoped that the incident Foreign Office spokesman to Reuter will be "localised" although it is when asked whether the Soviet air- admitted that further complications raids meant peace or war.
"Everything depends upon the are possible since the situation has been aggravated by air raids on Soviet and we want to localise the Korea and is thus not comparable affair, maintaining a non-provoca- with the situation which existed tive attitude as far as possible, but
there are limits to patience.” previously.
The spokesman claimed that no FIFTY-FIFTY CHANCE Japanese planes were in the air to engage the raiders, saying that A.A. The spokesman of the Foreign guns were responsible for bringing
up his view of the down the Soviet machines. Office summed situation with the remark that the He also emphasised that a Rus- chance of war or peace was at pre-so-Japanese War was not the result -sent fifty-fifty.
of relaxation of the Japanese cam- A Military Council was held at paign in China as Japan was unit- the War Ministry last night to dis-led in determination to crush Gen- cuss the situation created by the eralissimo Chiang Kai-shek, Reu- air attack on North Korea..
A semi-official statement issued after the conference declares that the Council decided to avoid for the time being everything that was likely to accentuate the tension. The statement, however, stresses that the Japanese are determined to take drastic action in the event
ter.
GERMAN ART EXHIBITION
Munich, To-day. During three weeks which have
of further provocation by the So- elapsed since Chancellor Hitler open-
vieta.
A Korean Army communique denies as a complete fabrication that alleged Soviet reports that Soviet planes bombed Harbin, saying that the raiders turned and fled when five were shot down. - Reuter.
ENERGETIC SOVIET PROTEST
Moscow, To-day.
According to the official Tass Charge the Soviet Agency d'Affaires in Tokyo has been instructed energetically to pro- test to Japan and draw atten- tion to the possible very grave consequences of the actions of Japanese militarists not wish- ing to respect the inviolability
· of Soviet territory, the frontier of which is established by Rus- so-Chinese Treaties and clearly annexed marked on the maps thereto bearing the signatures of the Chinese representatives.
Reuter.
Political quarters here, there-ed this year's Exhibition of German PAN-ARAB MEETING
fore, believe that the next few days art in the "House of German Art” or perhaps event hours will decide on July 10, the number of visitors whether localisation of the conflict
is still possible.Trans-Ocean.
BLACK-OUT ORDERED
to the Exhibition has exceeded 100,000.
During that period, over 860 of works exhibited, which is about
IN CAIRO
The Soviets' losses are estim- ated at 13 killed and 55 wounded. One Soviet tank and one So- viet field-gun were destroyed by the Japanese and one Soviet air- man was captured.
The Soviet Headquarters here state that they did not cross into Manchukuo terri-
tory and consequently were unable to pursue and sur- round the Japanese.
A strong protest will be made with warnings of serious possible
consequences;
Reuter
WUHAN AREA NOT TO BE ABANDONED
Hankow, To-day.
Removal of government offices from Hankow does not mean the abandonment of the Wuhan area, declared Mr. Wang Ching-wei in a press interview yesterday.
The removal, Mr. Wang explain- ed, is for the purpose of centralis- ing the government machinery in Chungking, present seat of the National Government, thereby in- creasing its efficiency, and will in no way affect the scheme for the defence of the Wuhan ares. “
It will also speed up the evacua- tion of civilians as, despite govern- ment warnings, many chose to stay when they saw the presence of 50. many government offices.--Central- News
dressed to the entire Arab-Mussul- man world, announced that the Con- gress will discuss the measures to be taken in favour of the oppressed Arabe in Palestine. The following proclamation has Cairo has
Cairo, To-day.
chosen as the meet-
one-third of total number have been been issued by Mohammed Alluba ing place been the Congress
SIN FUKUOKA –
sold.
Tokyo, To-day,
The exhibition will continue to As the result of the activity of remain open for some time to come. Soviet planes along the Korean -Trans-Ocean.
will
hopes the Egyptian Govern- Pasha.
"The Panarab Palestier Congress ment will give its support to
open in Cairo on October 7" measures proposed by Congress. The Proclamation which was ad-1 Trans-Ocean.
the