The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-16


man had fallen.
wrapped in a great, fur-collared
military cloak, General Ma received
me at his headquarters and outlined
ms policies a few minutes before he
departed on a dash to the scene of
battle on the Nonni sector, a few
miles south of Anganchi.
AS I talked with this short. slen-
der military leader, whose stubborn
opposition to the Japanese has led
to grave complications in Manchu-
ria, he constantly was receiving re-
ports Of the fighting thirty miles
away. Despite the gravity of the
military situation, General Ma spoke
with fatalistic calm as he drove
home these points:
May Bring Bombing
That Japan is beginning a great
offensive" which may result in the
bombing Of Tsitsihar.
That the Chinese ARE not strong
enough to fight, but we must hold
our ground until death"
That the Chinese have not been
aided and do not want the aid Of
Soviet Russia.
That the Chinese want the League
OF Nations to intervene.
He Indignantly repudiated the
repeated charges that his forces
have received aid from Soviet Rus
STA, or that he was assisted in his
bold defiance Of Japan, by anything
o'her than patriotic appeals from
his people.
At Anganchi I was met by Paul
Lew, General Mas secretary. He is
a youth Of "a, who speaks excellent
English, and who worships the Chi
nese commander.
Like Roller Coaster
We pulled out of Anganchi on
General Mas special train with all
the thrills of an amusement park
roller coaster, and dashed up and
down the hills.
When a kimono-clad servant took
away our lamp, to kindle a fire in
the cars Kitchen" and brew us
tea, we were plunged in complete
darkness. 1t was bumpy and an
eerie ride. Much of the time we
passed through wooded lanes where
the tree branches were so close they
swept the windows of the train
giving us the sensation Of cracking
machine guns.
Awaiting our arrival was the out
going Japanese consul, Yaouchi
Shimidzu, who was surrounded by
ten of his Subordinates and repre-
sentatives of the agency for the
south Manchuria railroad, He was
planning to leave for Anganchi and
thence for Hardin.
Despite the dramatic scene, made
more impressive by its military
phases, for soldiers were everywhere,
the crowds peered at the departing
Japanese more with an attitude of
curiosity than hostility.
Intends to Return
In a hasty conversation, Consul
Shimidzu said he intended to re-
turn to Tsitsihar as soon as the Sit
uation had been clarified. He added
that, so far as he was able to OBJ
serve, General Ma had received no
aid from the Soviets.
On the way to Mas headquarters,
as we passed through squalid, dim
ly lighted streets, Paul Lew ex-
planned something of General Mas
present situation
The soldiers in Mas army are
paid only the equivalent of one
American dollar a month for their
services, but boast of their loyalty
to the commander.
Regarding the talk of Soviet as
sistance, Lew cited the Dutch con-
sui at Hardin, Wander Hoeven, as
declaring after a visit to TsitShihar
Saturday that he had failed to find
any basis for the allegations, and
said this confirmed the findings of
American, British and other Off
Gals who had made similar investi-
cations at TsitSihar and the Nonni
river zone.
Feet Are Slippered
General Ma, when I met him,
shook hands with a formal bow, and
sat down on sofa beside the table.
He was dressed for the front in
uniform and great fur collared coat,
but his feet were slippered awaiting
the heavy military boots that. few
minutes later, were to complete his
costume.
Ma is As years old, short and
slender. He wears thin, dropping
moustache, and his head is closely
shaven.
GeSticulating, as ne offered me
refreshments and helped himself, he
explained at once that his army of
$4,000 men is receiving absolutely no
assistance from any foreign power.
we want the aid of the League
of Nations, but not that of the Rus
slams. If we receive the leagues aid,
that may prevent a japanese VIC
tory.
Casualties at 400
"Our casualties? More than TOO
400 killed and 300 wounded can
not say whether a bombardment
of Tsitsiher is impending, but I am
convinced we face a major offensive
Immediately, and I believe Consul
Shimidzu departed in anticipation
of it.
Replying to today's ultimatum,
urging me to resign" he said, L
have asked the Japanese whether
they want the Chinese or the
japanese to run the Heilungkiang
provincial government, and in
quired who would assume the power
in Tsitsihar if should 60"
Throughout my interview there
was no atmosphere of haste In
General Mas attitude, although /
knew he was anxious to plunge into
his war business again and that,
as soon as had gone, he would pun
on his boots and leave Tor the
front, thirty miles away.
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