Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-19
Toxic Soldiers
AreOccupying
Tsitsihar.
SOVIET WARNED
in FRIENDLY WAY
Trouble Seen if Reds
Send Troops to
Manchuria.
BY the Associated Press


victorious troops, reported to have
swept through Anganchi across
the Chinese Eastern Railway to
capture Tsitsihar, today were pur-
suing the retreating enemy to-
ward Koku Shan Chen $50 miles
northeast of TSitsihar, the Rengo
correspondent at Hardin reported.
Neither the foreign Office nor
the war Office has made any an
nouncement regarding the cap
ture of Tsitsihar, although adviceS
from Mukden said Gen. Honjo's
headquarters had confirmed re-
ports that the Japanese entered
the city this morning.
Apparently on the assumption
that the japanese were inside the
TSitsihar wall, it was authorita-
lively stated that they intended
to hold the city only until it was
assured that the Chinese forces
under Gen. Nah han-Shan had
been scattered so widely as to
make any chance fol: attack i'm
possible.
Friendly Warning to Soviet.
The japanese government instructed
its Ambassador at Moscow to convey
to Maxim 1itvinoff, Soviet commits
sar for foreign affairs, q friendly
warning regarding the danger Of seri-
Gus complications if Russia should send
troops into North Manchuria.
The Ambassador was charged at the
same time to reassure the Soviet foreign
commissar that no damage was done
to the Russian owned Chinese Eastern
Railway during yesterdays offensive in
the Anganchi area.
A. dispatch to the Rengo News Agency
from Hardin said Chang Chi-Hui. gov
ernor of the Hardin district and friend
ly to Japan, declared the independence
Of Heilungkiang province and set him
self up as governor.
The dispatch said he proposes to enter
Ts1tSlhar with his own troops and take
over the administration of the city.
Casualties Are Heavy.
Press dispatches said formal occupa-
| ton of TsitSihar was begun by the
japanese troops this morning.
Strategic points were taken over at
the close of the battle last night, the
| dispatches said, but activity of Chinese
troops made 1t necessary to begin the
formal occupation Immediately.
Reports said quiet prevailed in North
ern Manchuria following the smashing
victory Of the Japanese advance against
Gen. Nah Chan-Shan's army in which
| the casualties were given ss 300 Japa-
neSe and between 5000 and 1000 Chi
nese.
| No further fighting is taking place, 1t
was said, and the Japanese troops were
expected to be withdrawn in a week or
| two.
Their only object in driving north
ward, war Office spokesman said, was
to break up the concentration Of Chi
nese troops which threatened the Nonni
River bridge head.
Best Troops Declared Withdrawn.
Newspaper reports said, however, that
Gen. Mah's best troops escaped de-
struction in the battle, and are still at
large. They were withdrawn to the
rear, it was said, as soon as the tide
OF battle became evident.
| 4hcIS were SCLIle Reports VI dSIANAVy
| by Chinese troops in the regions OF
KaochengtSe, Hsinminfu and Yinkow
and also rumor that body of Soviet
Red Guards was moving from Vladt-
vostck to Chientao, but this later
seemed of doubtful authenticity.
A dispatch to the Rengo News Agency
said the Chinese Eastern Railway
seemed to be operating almost normally,
with only slight delays.
Messages sent by Gen. Nah to Chang
Hsuehlang it was reported here, said
his army was compelled to retreat be-
cause Of the superior strength Of the
japanese forces aided by eight bombing
planes and artillery. Nah said he
Withdrew to the northward from
Tsitsihar so as to save the city's terri
fed population from "the horrors OF
war"
Late yesterday 400 japanese cavalry
men, armed with hand grenades, ar
CONTINUED on Page S. Column IL