The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-09-19
JAPANESE TROOPS
lombard MUKDEN
AND CAPTURE CITY
Also Seize Chinese Military
Flying Field; Force Lands
On Coast
TRAIN SERVICE SUSPENDED
Difficulty Arose Over Alleged
Tampering With Man.
churian Bridge


CBy tho Associated Preas)
Diplomatic relations between
China and Japan were sorely threat
ened Saturday by the occupation Of
the capital Of Manchuria by Japan
ese troops and the landing Of a Jap
anese force In China proper.
The situation was somewhat re-
lleved when Japan decided to cease
all aggressive action and Cancelled
orders for military movements.
Japanese soldiers bombarded and
captured the walled city Of Mukden
and another force landed at Tsing-
tao on the south coast Of the shan
tung peninsula. midway between the
southernInost tip Of Manchuria and
Shanghai.
Authoritative reports from Tient-
sin said Japanese troops had occu-
pied the city Of NewchwanR and that
service between T1entsin and
Mukden had been suspended.
Japanese warships appeared In the
river off Newchwang.
Japanese reports Iaid Chinese and
japanese troops FLASHED Saturday
morning In the cit7 of Kwanechenr-
Use, northern extremity OF the south
Manchuria railroad.
Clash ct Supingkai
The Japanese attributed their &C.
tion to tho alleged destruction Of
q section Of the south Manchuria
railway, operated by the Japanese
government in . leased zone. The
Chinese commended tho railway vas
damaged by tho japanese theuaselyes
as . pretext for tho attack on
Mukden.
The Japanese cabinet In Tokyo
issued orders tho situation should bo
localized" and prevented from
spreading. Chinese foreign Office Of
ficialS In Marking said they had re-
ceived no official information . yet
and expressed the hope the trouble
would be localized"
At Peiping. q Chinese government
communicate charged the japanese
themselves destroyed part Of tina
south Manchurian railway q . pre-
text for the attack on Mukdeu. They
blew up . section Of the track near
the capital, 1t was charged. and be-
gan Smelling tho town without pro-
vocation. causing undetermined ca
sualties among Chinese soldiers and
civilians.
.Pretext' Say Chinese
The Japanese legation said an
other clash occurred at supingkai,
about 100 miles north Of Mukden,
when Chinese troops attempted to
tear up . section Of the railway and
were fired on by japanese guards.
Both sides were said to have called
achievements and pitched battle
resulted.
Dispatches by the Rengo news
agency, japanese organization, said
japanese troops had captured an ar
senal and the army aviation field at
Mukden and that Peitaying. . Muk-
den suburb, had been destroyed by
artillery fire and was aflame.
The dispatch said the Japanese ar
tillery attack on Peitaying caused
several hundred casualties among
Chinese troops and that the japanese
had taken $50 prisoners at the fly
ing field.
Hand-to-Hand Battle
The arsenal was occupied by
Japanese attachments after q hand
to-hand encounter.
A Japanese war department COM
munique said the fighting started
when Chinese troops attempted to de-
stroy q bridge Of the South Manchur-
ian railway at Peitaying.
The railway, controlled by the
japanese government, tra verses
Chinese territory, but operates In q
treaty zone protected by japanese
troops.
japanese reports said about 200
Chinese first attacked japanese SOL
diers at Peitaying late Friday night.
Repulsed, the Chinese returned with
reinforcements and severe fighting
ensued, according to the japanese re-
port. The Chinese were driven OFT.
Later fighting was reported from
other places around Mukden.
Additional dispatches told OF how
Chinese police were cleared from the
treaty zone and all japanese Nation
ais called into the protected area.
Japanese reinforcements were order
ed concentrated at Mukden and
Japanese troops were sent into the
Chinese section there to protect ha-
tional interests.
Cabinet In Session
The japanese cabinet was called
into extraordinary session to consider
the situation, conceded by . foreign
office spokesman to be extremely Sc
rious."
Seoul, Korea, reported the move
ment Of q japanese air squadron To
the border l25 miles from Mukdeu
and other planes were said to be
ready for use.
Japanese naval officials decided q
send vessels from the sasebo base "a
Kiushiu island, nea the Chinese
coast, should an emergency arise.
The situation late today VA re-
garded as somewheat easier and tn
Japanese government announced thai
Tokyo would make every effort mol
to enlarge upon the affair.
While there were several trooI
clashes, first ct Peitaying and thel
at Kwanchengtse, there va no -
rious fighting on . large scale. .
cording to soma reportA