The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-11-19
FIGHTING CEASES
AS JAPANESE ARMY
TAKES TSI7S|HAR
Soldiers Begin Formal 0ccupa.
ton of Manchurian City
Thursday
CHINESE FORCES RETREAT
Casualties in Engagement We'd
nesday Were 800 Japs,
1000 Chinese
CHINESE FORCES RETREAT
by The Associated Press)

(by Inc Associated PreSS)
Dispatches from Tsitsihar to Muk-
den said Japan's army began the for
NAL occupation OF the city at 10 a. m.
thursday. e p. m. Wednesday, east
ern standard time).
Earlier dispatches from Marking
said the Chinese were still In possess
sion OF TSitsihar and Anganchi, but
1t appeared japanese forces had
moved into the provincial capital
from Tsitsihar station, south of the
walled city.
Wednesdays fighting, In which the
Japanese were first reported to have
captured T~sitsihar, apparently took
them only as far as Tsits1har station,
although the advance guard entered
the outskirts of the walled city.
Japs Warn Russians
The japanese government has in
structed its ambassador at Moscow to
convey to Maxim Litvinoff. Soviet
commissar for foreign affairs, a
friendly warning regarding the dan
ger OF serious complications II Russia
should send troops into north Man.
churia.
The ambassador wa CHARGED at the
Same time to reassure the Soviet for
eign commissar no damage was done
to the Russian-owned Chinese East
ern railway during Wednesdays Of
tenSive In the Anganchi area.
Reports reaching here said quiet
prevailed In northern Manchur1a fol-
lowing the smashing victory of the
Japanese advance against General
Nah Chan Shan's army In which the
casualties were given as 800 japanese
and between 5000 ana 1000 Chinese.
simultaneously, q dispatch to the
Rengo news agency from Hardin
said Chang Chi-Kui, governor Of the
Hardin district and friendly to Japan,
declared the independence Of Heiuus-
kiang province and set himself up
as governor.
May Enter Tsitsihar
The dispatch said he proposes to
enter Tsitsihar with his own troops
and take over the administration OF
the city.
Official dispatches from Tsitsihar.
however, said the formal occupation
OF the city by the Japanese was be-
gun at 10 a. m. Thursday. following
the Japanese drive Wednesday in
which the Chinese army under Gen.
eral Nah Chan Shan was routed.
An official communique issued by
Japanese headquarters said commune
ication with the front was constant
ly interrupted, presumably by BAN
dts operating In the Japanese rear
along the Taonan-Anganchi railway.
Chinese prisoners taken by the
japanese said General Nah Chan
Shan told them only they were OPP
posed to the forces Of Chang Hal
Peng, General Mah's rival, and that
they were ignorant Of the nationality
OF their foes until the Japanese took
the first line trenches, after which
the retreat began.
AS a result Of the fighting thou
sands Of Chinese civilians were flee
ing their homes.
The cold continued Thur S
Thermometers at Tsitsihar station
registered 20 degrees below zero, CEN
tigrade. A strong wind swept down
from northern Manchuria.
Fighting Is Over
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, q war office spokesman said,
to break up the concentration Of
Chinese troops which threatened the
Nonni river bridge-head.
Newspaper reports said, however,
General Mah,s best troops escaped
destruction in the battle and are still
at large.
Moscow advices said the reported
occupation of Tsitsihar by the Japan
csc Is bound to cause concern to the
Soviet government because 1t in
volved crossing of the Chinese East
ern railway, jointly owned by China
and Russia.
Official comment has not been
forthcoming yet, but Maxim Litvin-
off. the foreign affairs commissar,
referred to just such an eventuality
in a recent declaration to the Japan
csc ambassador. whom he reminded
that any attack on TSitsihar which
involved cutting the railway might
cause material damage to Russia's
interests.
He reminded the ambassador that
Japan had given assurance that Rus
sian interests would be protected -
the Manchurian conflict and add23
that the Soviet government expecoed
such assurances to be kept.